IL - Pamela Christensen charged with stabbing, trying to poison teen daughters, 2014

Pamela J. Christensen, 47, was charged with three counts each of attempted first-degree murder, aggravated battery, and aggravated unlawful restraint — all felonies — after stabbing and trying to poison her children, according to a statement from Montgomery police.

On Sept. 25 at 10:50 a.m., authorities responded to the 2300 block of Patron Lane for two 911 hang-up calls, police said...

The daughters — whose ages were not immediately known — were taken to Rush-Copley Medical Center in Aurora, where they were treated and released, police said.

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Pamela J. Christensen, 47 and her three teen daughters were all wearing white when Montgomery police came to their home on Sept. 25. Court documents indicate Christensen told authorities she was sending the girls home to meet Jesus Christ when she stabbed the younger two...

Police Chief Daniel Meyers tells WBBM Newsradio Christensen was trying to get the girls to drink a poisonous mixture of household chemicals.

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A Montgomery mother accused of trying to kill her three daughters is back in jail after allegedly violating conditions of her bond...

The mother of three had been out of jail since May, when her husband, Vaughn, posted $75,000 for her release.
Kendall County Court records show that when Christensen was released on bond, a judge ordered her to comply with the rules of electronic home monitoring. She was only granted permission to leave home for court dates, doctor's appointments and for mental health treatment.

Christensen broke those rules on that June morning when she was found walking with her husband...

According to police reports, Vaughn called police to report that Christensen had left her home against the judge's orders. He reported that he had explained the orders to his wife multiple times since her release, but she didn't seem to understand them.

Vaughn told police that since her return to the family home, Christensen's mental health had been declining. She was exhibiting strange behavior, and although she claimed to not be a danger to herself or others, Christensen had made comments about the family being better off without her, Vaughn said...

In papers filed in Kendall County, Christensen claims to be suffering from major depression disorder, anxiety and schizophrenia-psychosis.

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Judge Timothy McCann found Christensen guilty, but mentally ill, of two counts of Aggravated Battery and one count of Aggravated Unlawful restraint. All remaining charges were dropped as part of a plea agreement reached between prosecutors and Christensen.

With day-to-day credit, and more than 700 days already served, Christensen is expected to be released from jail in a few weeks.

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Following years of psychiatric testing, Christensen was found fit to stand trial, thus striking her insanity defense, however, it was agreed that Christensen was mentally ill at the time of the crime. The court determined that the mother was impaired, but not to the extent that she wasn’t aware of the harm she was doing.

As part of her plea agreement Christensen will have to continue psychiatric treatment throughout her one year of mandatory supervised release, or parole.

Christensen will also have to register as a violent offender under the Violent Offender Against Youth Act.

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