Psychosis cited in plea deal for mother who stabbed children

Kentucky Mom gets 20 years for killing kids in Kentucky stabbing horror. Nikki James, 45, pleaded guilty to manslaughter for stabbing her sons Skyler, 5, and Deon, 13, to death.

The tragedy occurred at their Lexington home last spring. After hearing reports of a stabbing, police raced to the scene and discovered the children barely breathing. Despite being transported to the hospital, the boys were not saved.

James was instantly accused of killing her upon her apprehension. She did, however, consent earlier this month to enter a guilty plea to counts of lesser manslaughter. She received successive 10-year sentences from the judge.

The plea bargain spared her from potentially spending life in prison. Her attorney, Bonnie Potter, stated that doctors had noted James experienced psychosis at the time of the stabbings, which factored into the amended charges.

During a May 2022 testimony, Lexington Police Detective Joshua Crowe described the scene when officers arrived. Multiple witnesses reported seeing a blood-covered woman telling people to kill their children and themselves. James reportedly confessed to stabbing and killing her children to witnesses and directed officers to her apartment.

Crowe also testified that a witness who had a previous personal relationship with James said she had admitted to killing her children. James herself was found with stab wounds at the scene.

Her lawyer says she's devastated about her children but relieved the legal process is over.

Lexington locals are in disbelief, wondering how a woman could harm her own children in this way. Following the conclusion of the legal processes, many are wondering how to keep tragedies like these from occurring in the future.