In a harrowing turn of events, a Miami-Dade mother pleaded not guilty to charges following the tragic death of her twin toddlers. Shirlene Alcime, 42, is currently facing charges of child neglect after her children were discovered unresponsive in her vehicle, moments before she attempted suicide by jumping off an I-95 overpass near the Golden Glades Interchange, as reported by Local 10.
The twins, identified as Milendhet and Milendhere Napoleon-Cadet, were later pronounced dead at Jackson North Medical Center, the cause of death has not been publicly confirmed pending a toxicology report authorities, and prosecutors have indicated that they are awaiting these results to potentially level additional charges against the mother, she was not present during Tuesday's court hearing and has not offered publicly a motive for her actions; meanwhile, the father of the twins, Milson Cadet, conveyed his bewilderment over the incident, stating "For me, I don't really know what happened. ... I don't know about what happened today, why my kids passed away," according to an NBC Miami interview obtained by Hoodline.
Alcime had previously expressed to investigators an intention to harm both herself and her children in the lead-up to the tragic events, citing grave financial difficulties as a backdrop to her despondency. Officers responding to the incident were alerted to the situation by a tow truck driver who had been approached by Alcime herself, directing him to call for help for her children, at which point she fled and subsequently made the fatal leap.
