**Oregon Woman Charged with Attempted Murder After Allegedly Poisoning Children**
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A 32-year-old woman from Keizer, Oregon, faces serious charges after she reportedly attempted to poison her three young children and herself using carbon monoxide. Chardonnay Marie Benavidez has been charged with three counts of first-degree attempted murder and three counts of first-degree assault.
The incident occurred on the evening of June 6, when Benavidez contacted emergency services around 8 p.m. to report that her children were becoming unresponsive. In a call that prompted an immediate police response, she explained to dispatch that she had used the exhaust from her vehicle in an attempt to take their lives.
Keizer Police Department Lieutenant Trevor Wenning revealed that Benavidez had researched how to carry out the act, leading her to utilise the vehicle exhaust as a means for poisoning. She allegedly left the children locked inside the car for approximately 20 minutes while the engine ran, before bringing them back into the house and calling for help.
When the authorities arrived, they found Benavidez alongside her two-year-old twins and a four-year-old in the living room. All three children were subsequently transported to the Salem Hospital Emergency Department, where they received treatment for carbon monoxide poisoning.
The police investigation soon led to the discovery of a disturbing scene in an attached garage. Officers found a vehicle with a tube connected from the exhaust pipe to the interior. The fumes inside the garage were so potent that law enforcement needed assistance from the fire department, equipped with specialised breathing apparatus, to safely enter and ventilate the area to gather evidence.
Thankfully, the children were medically cleared after their treatment and released into the care of their father, Antonio Benavidez, the day following the incident. The situation in the hospital was tense; Antonio expressed frustration over being barred from entering the premises and obtaining information about his children’s well-being.
Reports from the courtroom during Benavidez’s arraignment indicated that, before the attempted poisoning, she had told her children they were enjoying a “sleepover” in the vehicle. Disturbingly, it was also revealed that there was a firearm found inside the car. Allegedly, Benavidez indicated to the police that she planned to shoot herself if the carbon monoxide did not kill the children but left her unharmed.
Antonio Benavidez, speaking to local news outlet KOIN, defended his ex-wife, claiming she had been a devoted mother. His emotional remarks highlighted the confusion and heartache following the alarming events, saying, “I went to the hospital. They wouldn’t let me in. They wouldn’t give me no information… I ended up getting detained because I was like, ‘Dude, those are my kids back there, I’m f—ing going in.’”
Chardonnay Marie Benavidez has been remanded in custody without bail, with the next court hearing scheduled for the following week. The case has sparked significant public interest and concern over the well-being of children in potentially harmful situations, prompting calls for further examination of mental health support resources for parents in distress.
As this complex case unfolds, the community remains vigilant, highlighting the balance between understanding mental health challenges and ensuring the safety of children. The legal proceedings ahead will undoubtedly draw attention to the seriousness of the allegations and the broader implications of the incident.