Mother Of 2 Dead Girls Arrested On Suspicion Of Murder

PHOENIX, AZ — The mother of two children who were found dead in a Phoenix house last week was arrested on suspicion of murder, according to Phoenix police.

Retta Cruse, 35, was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of two counts of first-degree murder, police said.

She is currently in the custody of the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office. Her bail was set at $2 million.

If charged and convicted, Cruse faces the possibility of life in prison without parole.

Royal McIntyre, 4, and Aleyah McIntyre, 9, were found dead in a bed at a house near the intersection of 13th Street and Mountain View Road Thursday, police said.

A medical examiner has not determined the cause of death, police said.

Cruse suffered stab wounds the night of her daughters' deaths that police believed were self-inflicted, police said

When first responders arrived at the home, a man was outside pleading for help, according to police. The man, who police said was cooperative, was detained and later released.

Phoenix police did not identify the man.