Court Papers: Aunt Accused of Stabbing Nieces Intended to Kill Family

Lisa Turkki, accused of stabbing her two young nieces in their Katonah home in July, told police that she had driven to her sister's home with the intention of killing her family, according to court papers released today.

She also may have missed some of her psychiatric medications at the time of the incident, according to the recorded statements she made to Bedford police officers, court papers show.

She also had a long history of mental illness, said her defense attorney, Jeanne Mettler, at Turkki's arraignment today at the Westchester County Courthouse in White Plains.

The violent attack occurred while the two girls, daughters of Joseph and Eva Kelly, were in Turkki's care, said Bedford police. The Kellys were attending a concert at nearby Caramoor when using kitchen knives, called 911, and waited outside of their Girdle Ridge home for authorities to arrive,

The two girls, ages 7 and 9, have since and hospital stays at the Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla.

At her arraignment, Turkki was charged with two counts of second-degree attempted murder, two counts of first-degree assault and two counts of a fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Her defense attorney, Jeanne Mettler, entered a plea of not guilty on Turkki's behalf, and announced her intent to pursue mental illness as a defense.

In public court documents, the District Attorney's Office stated as its intent to offer as evidence statements made by Turkki at the time of the stabbing. The statements were made to police at the Kelly's home on Girdle Ridge Road, and included Turkki saying she was "schizoaffective and may have missed some medications," and "I don't know why I stabbed the girls."

Court papers also show that Turkki stated to Bedford police that she "felt sorry for what I did to my sister."

Turkki, 39, entered the court wearing a rust-colored fleece jacket and black pants and was greeted by her attorney, Jeanne Mettler, who gave her a reassuring pat on her shoulder. Mettler also announced that she wanted Judge James Hubert—and the court—to know that Turkki's parents, who reside in Syracuse, NY, had wanted to attend the hearing, but given the distance and weather were unable.

Judge Hubert read aloud the terms of the multiple orders of protection issued on behalf of the Kelly family, which bar any communication or visitation between Turkki and her relatives, and asked if she understood.

"Yes," she said quietly, nodding.

When asked about her client's psychiatric medications, Mettler would only confirm that Turkki had a long history of mental illness.

"She has struggled with mental illness her whole adult life," said Mettler. "We are hopeful that the district attorney's office will reach a humane and just disposition of this matter."

Turkki was remanded to the Westchester County Jail and is due back in court on March 10; the next court conference date for lawyers and prosecuters will be January 13. She faces a maximum sentence of 25 years in state prison on the top counts of the indictment, according to the district attorney's office.