She and the children arrived in Lawrence during the morning hours of Aug. 3, where Dingledine said she drove around the city “feeling depressed and worried about the consequences of her actions” on the previous day.
She said she began thinking about taking her own life.
“Scharron said at one point she drove down to the river and parked the vehicle. She and the kids walked down to the river and put their feet in the river and played,” the affidavit says. “While at the river, Scharron said she thought about the river being a good way to kill herself. They then returned to the vehicle and she drove around the city. Scharron said as she drove, she decided she was going to kill herself and kill the children because she didn’t want anyone else to have them.”
Dingledine told police she then drove back to the river and turned onto Powerhouse Road, driving along to a spot under the bridge.
“Scharron said she debated on whether to drive the car into the river, or walk up to the bridge and jump into the river with her children,” the affidavit says. “Scharron said she decided to drive the vehicle into the river knowing neither child could swim and would likely die. Scharron said both children were seated in the front seat with her unrestrained, when she accelerated into the river.”
Affidavit: Mother told police she drove into river to kill herself and her 2 children ‘because she didn’t want anyone else to have them’