# Pregnant mom drives into ocean at Daytona Beach. Wants to take her kids to a "better" place.
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pregnant-mom-drives-into-ocean-at-daytona-beach-wants-to-take-her-kids-to-a-better-place/683150
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [March 7, 2014, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pregnant-mom-drives-into-ocean-at-daytona-beach-wants-to-take-her-kids-to-a-better-place/683150 "2014-03-07T21:30:19Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)
#### Post date: [March 7, 2014, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pregnant-mom-drives-into-ocean-at-daytona-beach-wants-to-take-her-kids-to-a-better-place/683150/1 "2014-03-07T21:30:19Z")
:eek: She won’t be winning any mother of the year awards. Geez, there are some crazy ass people in this world. Lets hope these charges stick and she goes to prison. She should never have custody of any children again.
[Chilling video of the incident.](http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/woman-drives-straight-ocean-daytona-beach-kids-car-article-1.1711135)
[Attempted murder charges filed.](http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/pregnant-mom-drove-water-daytona-beach-charged-attempted-murder-article-1.1714262)
> [@](#):
>
> A pregnant woman drove her SUV into the ocean Tuesday with three young children inside near Daytona Beach in an apparent murder-suicide attempt after talking about demons, authorities said.
>
> Ebony Wilkerson, 32, drove her Honda Odyssey van wildly along the shoreline near Silver Beach Ave. before veering straight into roughly four feet of water — almost submerging the vehicle as onlookers watched in horror, police said in a statement.
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> Lifeguards rushed to pull the Daytona woman and the three children — ages 10, 9 and 3 — from the water as the minivan began to take on water.
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> One of the frantic children wailed the mother had snapped, according to reports.
>
> “The two in the back seat was crying, with their arms out saying, ‘Our mommy’s trying to kill us, please help,’”
> [@](#):
>
> “She actually told them to close their eyes and go to sleep, ‘I’m taking you to a better place,’” Johnson said. “The fact that she did intentionally try to kill the children…this is a tragic event.”
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### Author:  [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)
#### Post date: [March 7, 2014, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pregnant-mom-drives-into-ocean-at-daytona-beach-wants-to-take-her-kids-to-a-better-place/683150/2 "2014-03-07T21:40:17Z")
WESH has a really good video report that includes interviews with the rescuers.
> **[Family: Mom who drove van into ocean talked about demons](https://www.wesh.com/article/mom-who-drove-van-into-ocean-talked-about-demons-hours-before-family-says/4432051)**
>
> Daytona Beach police interviewed the mother who drove her van with her three children inside into the ocean hours before the incident.
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### Author:  [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)
#### Post date: [March 7, 2014, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pregnant-mom-drives-into-ocean-at-daytona-beach-wants-to-take-her-kids-to-a-better-place/683150/3 "2014-03-07T22:48:40Z")
There are a lot of people who have a mental illness episode and then recover. There is a good chance she will fit into this category.
There is a difference between mental illness and evil, Aceplace57.
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### Author:  [@Lion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lion)
#### Post date: [March 7, 2014, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pregnant-mom-drives-into-ocean-at-daytona-beach-wants-to-take-her-kids-to-a-better-place/683150/4 "2014-03-07T23:12:22Z")
I’m not sure what sending her to prison would accomplish.
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### Author:  [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)
#### Post date: [March 7, 2014, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pregnant-mom-drives-into-ocean-at-daytona-beach-wants-to-take-her-kids-to-a-better-place/683150/5 "2014-03-07T23:46:50Z")
> [@PastTense](#):
>
> There are a lot of people who have a mental illness episode and then recover. There is a good chance she will fit into this category.
Would you be so forgiving if she had _successfully_ murdered them?
> [@Lion](#):
>
> I’m not sure what sending her to prison would accomplish.
One less psycho child-killing bitch in the world with less chance to breed, that’s what prison would accomplish. She could even share a cell with Susan Smith and Andrea Yates, so they could brag about their past accomplishments, I’m easy-going like that.
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### Author:  [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)
#### Post date: [March 7, 2014, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pregnant-mom-drives-into-ocean-at-daytona-beach-wants-to-take-her-kids-to-a-better-place/683150/6 "2014-03-07T23:53:12Z")
Considering that the woman was babbling about demons before heading out with her kids, I’m thinking maybe she’s actually lost her grip on reality. But fortunately we’ll have court-appointed psychiatrists and the like to help figure out whether she just felt like murdering her kids or whether she thought they were escaping damnation to hell by racing into the surf and off to heaven.
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### Author:  [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)
#### Post date: [March 7, 2014, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pregnant-mom-drives-into-ocean-at-daytona-beach-wants-to-take-her-kids-to-a-better-place/683150/7 "2014-03-07T23:54:54Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#):
>
> Considering that the woman was babbling about demons before heading out with her kids, I’m thinking maybe she’s actually lost her grip on reality. But fortunately we’ll have court-appointed psychiatrists and the like to help figure out whether she just felt like murdering her kids or whether she thought they were escaping damnation to hell by racing into the surf and off to heaven.
She’s faking it.
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### Author:  [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)
#### Post date: [March 7, 2014, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pregnant-mom-drives-into-ocean-at-daytona-beach-wants-to-take-her-kids-to-a-better-place/683150/8 "2014-03-07T23:56:44Z")
Great, I’m glad you’re qualified to diagnose by police reports. I must have missed taking that test.
BTW, Andrea Yates is in a mental hospital. Smith is in prison.
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### Author:  [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)
#### Post date: [March 8, 2014, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pregnant-mom-drives-into-ocean-at-daytona-beach-wants-to-take-her-kids-to-a-better-place/683150/9 "2014-03-08T00:15:00Z")
What’s to diagnose? She’s unsafe around kids, anyone’s kids. Would YOU be willing to let her babysit YOUR children, after seeing what she’s capable of?
And you know what really makes me sick to my stomach? As the men were rescuing her kids, she got out of the SUV and WALKED AWAY, as if it was nothing in the world. What happened, did the demons tell her, “It’s okay, we’ve changed our minds, you may go now,” or something like that? I’d like to hear your excuse for that.
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### Author:  [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)
#### Post date: [March 8, 2014, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pregnant-mom-drives-into-ocean-at-daytona-beach-wants-to-take-her-kids-to-a-better-place/683150/10 "2014-03-08T00:21:01Z")
No sane mother tries to kill her kids.
And every time I read such sad stories as these, I am grateful that my own grip on reality is pretty solid, and have nothing but pity those who don’t share the same degree of mental health.
YMMV etc
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### Author:  [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)
#### Post date: [March 8, 2014, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pregnant-mom-drives-into-ocean-at-daytona-beach-wants-to-take-her-kids-to-a-better-place/683150/11 "2014-03-08T00:27:52Z")
Man I hope they catch that Puerto Rican guy who did it.
Good think it’s “attempted.” I don’t know what it says criminologically about trying to do this in a public area.
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### Author:  [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)
#### Post date: [March 8, 2014, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pregnant-mom-drives-into-ocean-at-daytona-beach-wants-to-take-her-kids-to-a-better-place/683150/12 "2014-03-08T00:29:18Z")
**buddha\_david** : Kindly point out where I said “oh that poor dear, set her free, she’s just had a bad day.”
I’m pointing out that there is a **goddamned difference** between intentionally committing murder, and honestly but delusionally believing that you are attempting to prevent something even more terrible by doing something awful. And that difference is usually prison vs incarceration in a mental hospital and forced treatment. Get it?
And fuck, I don’t know why she got out - I’m not the psychiatrist on the case. Maybe the demons didn’t want her? Maybe she was hoping to reclaim the kids since they were being taken away? Why don’t you ask her since you know her motivations?
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### Author:  [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)
#### Post date: [March 8, 2014, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pregnant-mom-drives-into-ocean-at-daytona-beach-wants-to-take-her-kids-to-a-better-place/683150/13 "2014-03-08T00:33:21Z")
Drove into the ocean?
The whole story sounds fishy to me.
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### Author:  [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)
#### Post date: [March 8, 2014, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pregnant-mom-drives-into-ocean-at-daytona-beach-wants-to-take-her-kids-to-a-better-place/683150/14 "2014-03-08T00:35:25Z")
> [@](#):
>
> “She’s talking about Jesus, that there’s demons in the house,” the sister told the operator, according to a recording of the call obtained by WESH-TV."
Another one. This is why I claim that anyone who claims to be religious with kids in house or homeschooled kids should get a weekly mandatory visit from child services.
Sh probably has Susan Smith posters on her wall.
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### Author:  [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)
#### Post date: [March 8, 2014, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pregnant-mom-drives-into-ocean-at-daytona-beach-wants-to-take-her-kids-to-a-better-place/683150/15 "2014-03-08T01:20:54Z")
Keeping this woman far, far away from kids is what matters. Unfortunately theres a good chance some doctor will swear she’s all better in a year or so. She could get custody again.
It seems like they have a solid attempted murder case against her. That should keep her locked up for a few years. At least give the two older kids a chance to grow up in a safer home.
I’m not sure what will happen with the three year old and the baby she’s due to deliver. They will probably be the focus of a custody battle in a few years.
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### Author:  [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)
#### Post date: [March 8, 2014, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pregnant-mom-drives-into-ocean-at-daytona-beach-wants-to-take-her-kids-to-a-better-place/683150/16 "2014-03-08T01:32:10Z")
As someone who has upon occasion lost her tenuous grip on reality, can I just say “thank you” to those who don’t automatically knee-jerk every story like this they read? That you can see distinctions between a person who perhaps has had a psychotic break and those who do crimes just for shits and giggles, means a great deal to any of us who struggle with difficult mental issues daily. We appreciate you.
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### Author:  [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)
#### Post date: [March 8, 2014, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pregnant-mom-drives-into-ocean-at-daytona-beach-wants-to-take-her-kids-to-a-better-place/683150/17 "2014-03-08T01:36:18Z")
> [@faithfool](#):
>
> As someone who has upon occasion lost her tenuous grip on reality, can I just say “thank you” to those who don’t automatically knee-jerk every story like this they read?
That depends – did you ever once try to murder your children? Or anyone else’s children?
And BTW does everyone at least agree the entire tone of this thread would be different if it was the FATHER who tried to kill those innocent kids, not the mother?
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### Author:  [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)
#### Post date: [March 8, 2014, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pregnant-mom-drives-into-ocean-at-daytona-beach-wants-to-take-her-kids-to-a-better-place/683150/18 "2014-03-08T01:49:16Z")
I don’t object to the woman being sentenced to a mental hospital. Getting her locked up and protecting those kids is what matters. Her unborn child is still at risk if this woman attempts suicide again.
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### Author:  [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)
#### Post date: [March 8, 2014, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pregnant-mom-drives-into-ocean-at-daytona-beach-wants-to-take-her-kids-to-a-better-place/683150/19 "2014-03-08T01:55:49Z")
> [@buddha\_david](#):
>
> And BTW does everyone at least agree the entire tone of this thread would be different if it was the FATHER who tried to kill those innocent kids, not the mother?
:dubious:
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### Author:  [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)
#### Post date: [March 8, 2014, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pregnant-mom-drives-into-ocean-at-daytona-beach-wants-to-take-her-kids-to-a-better-place/683150/20 "2014-03-08T02:12:40Z")
Jeez, **buddha\_david** , did your mom kill you when you were a kid or something ?
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