The mother of three young children in North Dakota allegedly slit their throats and told her husband to “say goodbye to your kids” before barricading herself inside the family home, according to police and a newly released probable cause affidavit that paints a chilling picture of domestic terror and unimaginable violence. The incident unfolded on the evening of August 6 in Mandan, a quiet community west of Bismarck, when officers responded to a frantic 5:42 p. m.
call that a 22-year-old woman had locked herself inside the residence with her children and threatened to 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁 them.
The suspect, identified as Kaylee Hehheart, has been charged with two counts of murder, one count of attempted murder, three counts of aggravated assault, two counts of terrorizing with a dangerous weapon, and a misdemeanor count of domestic violence. The victims, three siblings all under the age of four, included three-year-old Morgan, five-month-old Ava, and a one-year-old child who miraculously survived despite suffering severe injuries. The one-year-old underwent surgery and is being treated at a local hospital, while Morgan and Ava succumbed to their injuries at the hospital.
When officers arrived at the home, they encountered the children’s 22-year-old father and a 43-year-old grandmother, both described by police as frantic in the front yard. The father shouted, “She’s in the residence,” as the officers heard sounds of an assault coming from inside the house. Forcing their way in, a patrol officer discovered Hehheart holding a kitchen knife to her own throat, covered in blood across her upper body and pants.
Hehheart dropped the knife and ordered officers to 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁 her, according to the probable cause affidavit. The patrol officer described the knife as a long-bladed kitchen knife. Hehheart was detained without injury, but the discoveries inside the home were far more horrific.
The officer located three children lying motionless on a bed in a bedroom directly off the living room, all covered in blood, with the blood primarily concentrated near their necks.
A doctor later informed police that all three children had injuries indicative of their throats being slit. The three-year-old, Morgan, also had a laceration on her wrist, which could have been a defensive wound, according to the affidavit. The scene was so disturbing that Mandan Police Chief stated that it was something no one should ever have to see, describing it as an “extreme tragic and heartbreaking incident.”
The affidavit reveals a toxic and deteriorating relationship between Hehheart and her husband, who is also the father of the victims. The husband told police that Hehheart had made past comments about killing herself and their children, and he had planned to divorce her within the previous couple of months. Those plans included a separation, during which the husband engaged in sexual relationships with other women, and Hehheart was aware of these relationships.
The husband said that Hehheart’s threats escalated, leading Burley County Social Services to become involved after the husband reported her comments to mental health services. Hehheart had previously been committed to mental health services, estimated at 12 to 18 months before the incident, and had been on medication and cleared to be with the children, according to the husband. Despite this, the couple’s dynamic continued to spiral.
The investigation uncovered that Hehheart had purchased a Glock brand handgun from a store in Bismarck just two days before the murders, on August 4. The husband told police that during the incident, Hehheart threatened him with the firearm. He managed to collect video on his cell phone showing Hehheart carrying five-month-old Ava with a pistol pointed at her hip, aimed at the ground.
In the video, she allegedly told him, “Say goodbye to your kids.”
The husband said he was able to wrestle the firearm from Hehheart, disassemble the handgun, and throw the pieces throughout the house. After that, Hehheart locked him out of the residence. While wrestling for the gun, Hehheart allegedly scratched and bit him, and officers observed those injuries.
The handgun was later recovered from the home.
The grandmother, who was also on scene, told police that Hehheart chased both her and the children’s father out of the residence with a knife, forcing them to flee. When interviewed by police, Hehheart admitted that she remembered chasing them out of the house with the knife. However, she stated that she did not remember everything that happened, saying she believed she was the only person inside the residence when the children were attacked.
During her interview at the Mandan Police Department, after being read her Miranda rights, Hehheart was still covered in a large quantity of blood across her torso, arms, legs, and hands. She told police that she had placed the children’s bodies on the bed and believed their throats had been cut before she placed them there. She remembered having the knife in her hands when police arrived.
The legal process is now underway. Hehheart is currently being held at the Burley Morton Detention Center on a $3 million bond. She made her first court appearance, and her next preliminary hearing is scheduled for October 6.
A trial date has been set for February 1, 2027. The maximum sentence for the murder charges alone is life in prison without parole.
The community of Mandan is in shock, grappling with the fallout of the tragedy. The police chief’s words echoed throughout the region, emphasizing the gravity of the situation and the emotional toll on first responders. The one-year-old survivor, who is still hospitalized, is considered a miracle by investigators, but the child’s future remains uncertain.
The affidavit highlights ongoing mental health struggles that may have contributed to the horrific act. The husband’s testimony about past commitments to mental health services and medication raises questions about whether the system failed to prevent the tragedy. The case will likely involve a deep dive into Hehheart’s mental state, with prosecutors and defense attorneys battling over issues of competency and intent.
The investigation continues as police work to gather additional evidence, including medical records, cell phone data, and witness accounts from friends and family. The video captured by the husband showing Hehheart with the gun and her alleged statement will be a critical piece of evidence. Law enforcement is also investigating the purchase of the firearm and any other interactions Hehheart may have had with mental health professionals.
The tragedy has left many unanswered questions, most importantly what drove a young mother of three to such a violent breaking point. The three children were innocent victims of an act that defies comprehension, and the community is left wondering how to prevent such a catastrophe in the future.
