The woman’s chilling words after stabbing her sons multiple times on the freeway are: “Mom loves you.”
ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA: Authorities have filed two counts of attempted murder against a woman who allegedly stabbed her children on a highway, and they have praised a man for stepping in to end what could have been a situation much worse.
Late at night on Monday, August 15, Megan Jayne Somerville reportedly pulled over on the North-South Highway, pulled her two young sons out of the car, then stabbed them repeatedly with a knife. According to police, a passerby who saw the incident stopped his car on the freeway, intervened and disarmed the suspect. Both youngsters suffered injuries which required immediate medical attention at Adelaide Women’s and Children’s Hospital.
Thankfully, early Tuesday, August 16, Megan’s eight-year-old son underwent surgery for his injuries and is expected to make a full recovery. Although his three-year-old brother’s condition was considered stable, he was also going to need surgery. While it was all happening, their 35-year-old mother was taken to the Royal Adelaide Hospital and given a checkup. She was taken into custody to return to court in December, according to court documents, despite a previous bail hearing in which her lawyers were given the opportunity to intervene.
Superintendent Selena Dinning expressed the police’s gratitude to the unnamed individual and those who helped resolve the issue after the incident. Dinning said, “I’m sure it would have been a lot worse if that man hadn’t stopped.” The superintendent said it was not immediately clear what started the altercation or where the woman was going. “We are very grateful that he has stopped and we are also very grateful to the other two members of the public who have helped him. We think he has been very brave in doing this. We are really delighted that he is there, in the right place, at the right time. She was on the freeway, so it wasn’t far from home, but Dinning said he couldn’t tell why she was there. According to other stories, Megan reportedly told her sons, “Mom loves you,” as she was led away from the stage.
Megan Jayne Somerville
Authorities are currently investigating the family’s previous relationship with police and child protection services. Police have already identified other family members, including the boys’ biological father, but will still consult with authorities regarding the children’s future care.
On Tuesday, Megan’s sister, Jessica Somerville, posted on social media to say the suspect had already spoken with the Department of Child Protection and South Australia Police. Jessica claimed that despite numerous meetings with SAPOL and the Department of Child Protection, the system did not intervene effectively. Megan has struggled with serious mental illness and addiction for the past eight years, and despite the best efforts of her family and friends, her condition worsened with a number of events during that time.
South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas called accounts of the incident “obviously heartbreaking”, adding that there were many unresolved issues. It is appropriate for the police investigation to finish its work, and it is difficult to understand, he continued. God knows what circumstances led to this total disaster, if the accusations turn out to be correct.
