Authorities are looking into whether postpartum depression that led to postpartum psychosis played a role in the 30-year-old mother’s actions. Police say she told family members she drowned her children, but won’t talk to investigators. “So far, he hasn’t said anything,” NYPD Chief Kenneth Corey said. The lifeless bodies of her three children, 7-year-old Zachary Merdy, 4-year-old Lilana and 3-month-old Oliver Bondarev, were found on the shoreline of a Coney Island beach after an extensive search. Police first learned of the children’s disappearance early Monday morning when a concerned family member called saying someone might have harmed them. When officers arrived at the home on Neptune Avenue, a man who identified himself as the father of the three children answered the door and told police he believed the mother was with the children on the sidewalk. Officers then began combing the footpath and surrounding area for any sign of the mother or children. Ninety minutes later, police received a call from family members who were with the mother on the boardwalk, about two miles from where the children were found. “Mother was soaking wet,” Corey said. “Whether she was out in the rain or in the water is speculation at this point. She was wet, barefoot and not communicating with officers.” Police say he is currently at NYU Langone Hospital Brooklyn. The mother has prior incidents of harassment and aggravated harassment that did not result in charges. He has no prior arrests or history of emotional disturbance. Police say the actions appear to be premeditated and not something that happened in a moment, and detectives are looking into her past and interviewing neighbors and relatives to determine what happened. He has not yet been charged. Police are asking anyone who may have seen the mother and children at any time last night or early this morning to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA ( 74782). READ ALSO | NYPD commissioner discusses drop in shootings, rise in other crimes like robberies ———-
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