Police: Cheverly mother suffocated 2 children

WASHINGTON — Police say the Cheverly, Maryland, mother charged with murdering her two children, ages 1 and 3, suffocated them by putting plastic bags over their heads.

Sonya Spoon, 24, is being held without bond on two counts of first-degree murder in connection with the deaths of Ayden Spoon, 1, and Kayla Thompson, 3.

During a noon news conference Monday, police said evidence of foul play was readily seen in the home when police arrived early Sunday morning.

Police say the mother waived her Miranda rights and gave a very detailed statement of what occurred.

The Cheverly Police Department confirmed the deaths of Ayden and Kayla early Sunday.

Prince George’s County police say when the children were transported to the hospital they were having significant difficulty breathing.

Cpl. Bernard Jones, a detective with Cheverly police, says police received a call around 2:13 a.m. Sunday regarding unconscious children at a home in the 6200 block of Forest Road in Prince George’s County.

Both children died at the hospital. Ayden died at 2:55 a.m., and Kayla died at 6:55 a.m.

“We are all saddened by this tragic event. The loss of two children that were so young tugs at our hearts. As the police investigate this horrible case, our thoughts and prayers are with the family and the people of the Cheverly community as they try to reconcile how and why this happened,” said Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker III, in a statement Sunday.

Police are still exploring Spoon’s motive for the murders.

Both fathers of the children have been notified of their deaths.

Court records show Spoon was involved in a months-long custody battle with Lester Thompson, the father of her 3-year old daughter.

According to records filed in Calvert County, Spoon demanded a paternity test in February.

It confirmed that Lester Thompson was indeed the father.

After hearing the news, he wrote on his Facebook page, “I am the father which I had no doubt