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A woman has been charged with capital murder after her two children were found dead inside a burned vehicle Friday morning.
A passerby discovered the vehicle between 5 and 6 a.m. Friday in the 500 block of Richland Hills on the West Side of San Antonio.
Investigators said the person was walking a dog and saw a woman at the scene who said she had already called authorities, but the witness also called 911.
Assistant San Antonio Police Chief Jesus Salame Jr. confirmed that two children, ages 5 and 7, were found dead in the vehicle.
He said SAPD received a call early Friday morning reporting a white Hyundai on fire in the 500 block of Richland Hills Drive behind a warehouse.
The suspect, Marlene Vidal of Edinburg, was charged after statements from her and video evidence indicated she acted alone.
Salame confirmed that Vidal is the children’s mother. He added that investigators are determining whether mental health issues played a role.
“Everyone’s going to want to know why something like this happened. And unfortunately, the 'why' is sometimes the hardest question to answer," said Salame. "So, what I commit to you now is that we’re going to continue working to find the truth, seek justice for those children, and support everyone affected by this tragedy.”
Relatives of Vidal told the San Antonio Express-News they previously contacted both child welfare officials and police about concerns over her mental health. Family members said Vidal experienced a psychotic episode last year and became a danger to her children.
Vidal now faces capital murder charges in the deaths of the two children. A judge set her bond at $2.1 million.
Officers are verifying information and contacting family members. Vidal has family connections in San Antonio.
Forensic aspects of the investigation, including where the children were in the vehicle and what was used to start the fire, remain under review.
