Woman charged with 4 counts of murder in children's deaths

Posted: 09:42 PM ET

WASHINGTON (CNN) - Wearing a white jail-issued jumpsuit and a blank stare, a 33-year-old woman appeared in a Washington, D.C. courtroom Thursday on charges of killing four children believed to be hers after their decomposed bodies were found Wednesday in her home.Banita Jacks, 33, is charged with three counts of felony murder and one count of first-degree murder while armed. The victims, who range in age from 5 to 17 years, are thought to be her daughters. Their bodies were found when U.S. marshals served an eviction notice at Jacks' apartment in southeast Washington, D.C.

Court documents say Jacks identified the victims as her daughters Brittany Jacks, 17; Tatianna Jacks, 11; N'kiah Fogle, 6; and Aja Fogle, 5. Earlier, Mayor Adrian Fenty said the bodies' decomposition has hindered their identification, although they were believed to be Jacks' children.

Jacks told police her daughters were possessed by demons and that each died in their sleep during a seven- to 10-day period, court documents said.