What to Know
A 22-year-old mother allegedly attacked her three young children inside their North Dakota home on August 6, 2026, killing two of them. Mandan Police responded to a residence at 1205 South Frontier Trail following a call about a mother stabbing her children. When they arrived, they found the children’s father and grandmother outside and Kailey Renae Erhart inside with a knife to her throat.
Officers disarmed Erhart and rushed her children to an area hospital for help. Tragically, her 3-year-old and 5-month-old daughters passed away. A 2-year-old boy remains in critical condition. Police arrested Kailey Erhart, who now faces murder charges.
Kailey Erhart allegedly threatened the children before the violent attack.
According to court documents obtained by WDAY, Kailey Erhart allegedly threatened her estranged husband, Cameron Erhart, with a gun prior to the vicious attack and told him, “Say goodbye to your kids.”
The father of three disarmed his wife and reportedly took the gun apart before she chased him from the residence with a knife. Kailey Erhart reportedly told police she put the three children on the bed before stabbing them. When police arrived, she allegedly threatened suicide with the knife to her throat before ultimately dropping the weapon.
Emergency responders rushed the children to area hospitals for help.
The couple’s infant, Ava, died from her injuries the evening of the attack at St. Alexius Medical Center. Their 3-year-old daughter, Morgan, passed away on August 7 at Sanford Health. Doctors performed surgery to repair lacerations on 2-year-old Colton’s neck. Per a GoFundMe, he remains under a doctor’s care.
Kailey Erhart reportedly made suicidal statements in the past and underwent inpatient mental healthcare in the last 12 to 18 months, per WDAY, and had ongoing involvement with social services.
Cameron Erhart’s mother created a GoFundMe to help her son.
Melissa Erhart shared the fundraiser, hoping to help her son through what is undoubtedly the most challenging time of his life.
“He is a father trying to survive something no parent should ever have to face. I lost two precious souls in a devastating tragedy after they were murdered by their mother, and the pain is more than I can put into words. Every day, we are carrying unimaginable grief while also trying to stay strong for his surviving child, who is receiving ongoing medical care and facing challenges no child should ever have to endure,” she wrote.
They’ve raised more than $30,000 thus far.
Police called the incident horrific.
During a news conference, Mandan Police Chief Jason Ziegler declined to give a motive for the killings, but recognized the tragic nature of the children’s deaths.
“A scene like that is something that nobody should ever have to see, and the way [the officers] came through in one of the most horrific times that they’ll probably experience in their life, I’m proud,” he said.
“I want to acknowledge this is an extreme, tragic, and heartbreaking incident for the children involved, their families, our community and first responders who arrived on scene. Our thoughts are with everyone that were impacted.”
Kailey Erhart faces murder, attempted murder, and aggravated assault charges. She’s currently held in a $3,000,000 bond.
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