(LE FLORIDIEN) — A South Florida mother facing allegations linked to the tragic deaths of her twin children, aged 3, who were discovered lifeless inside a vehicle on Interstate 95, declared her innocence in court on Tuesday.
Identified as Shirlene Napoleon Alcime, a Haitian origin, she was detained on February 15, facing charges of child neglect with severe bodily harm, as stated by the Miami-Dade Police.
Alcime, 42, was not in court for Tuesday’s arraignment. Her attorney entered a plea of not guilty on her behalf. The court was informed that additional charges might be considered, depending on the outcomes of ongoing toxicology tests.
Previously, Alcime had appeared in court via video link from a hospital bed in jail on February 16, during which Judge Mindy Glazer ordered that she be held without bond. Glazer highlighted the severity of the allegations, suggesting the potential for murder charges, though it was noted that the decision to file such charges rests with the prosecution.
During her initial court appearance, Alcime began to respond to Glazer’s mention of “murder,” but was swiftly advised by her public defender not to discuss the case. Glazer pointed out the serious implications of the arrest affidavit, which suggested Alcime might have attempted to take her own life after harming her children.
The arrest report reveals Alcime’s confession to planning the death of her twins and herself for months, citing financial struggles and debt as the reasons. Alcime, who owned several businesses in South Florida, had faced multiple eviction proceedings in recent years.
According to the report, on February 1, Alcime drove with her twins, considering various ways to end their lives, ultimately deciding to stop her silver Toyota Highlander on the I-95 overpass. She contemplated jumping from the bridge with her children or throwing them off before jumping herself.
According to the report, a tow truck driver happened to be passing and noticed Alcime outside her vehicle and stopped to help her.
Alcime told the driver to call 911 because her children were unresponsive, and as he called 911 he removed the boy from his car seat and started to give him CPR. As first responders were approaching with lights and sirens blaring, Alcime walked away and threw herself off the overpass.
Alcime survived the fall and was hospitalized. The twins, identified as Milendhet and Milendhere G. Napoleon-Cadet, were pronounced dead at a local hospital, showing symptoms of foaming at the mouth. Alcime denied giving them any substances and claimed ignorance about the cause of their condition. The investigation into the exact cause of the twins’ deaths continues, with another court hearing scheduled for March 6 to decide Alcime’s custody status pending trial.
