This makes sense to me. While killers--in general--may well have been abused as children, most children who are abused do not grow up to be killers.
LV is an enigma to me, and she may well suffer from one or more mental disorders. I would have to know whether she really believed her children had been turned to zombies--that their souls were trapped in limbo--and that the only way she could help them would be to kill their former bodies. To me, if she honestly believed that, insanity should be on the table as a defense. Because, that's clearly insane.
CD manipulated LV's mental weakness, imo, and he took advantage of her. Every time I watch CV talking to the officers I am reminded of how out of her mind LV really was.
But, either way, whether she killed the kids out of misguided cult-thought or whether she was just tired of them and wanted a new life, I think her crimes are deserving of the death penalty. Insane or not, innocent lives have been taken and I think justice must be served. JMOO.