Epitome Of A Bad Mother: Woman Admits She Murked Her Three Kids To Keep Husband From Getting Custody

Whatever happened to doing what’s best for your children?

A U.S. mother today admitted stabbing to death her three young children in their UK home as she was locked in a bitter court battle with her estranged husband.

Theresa Riggi, from California, knifed her eight-year-old twins Austin and Luke and their five-year-old sister Cecilia in their home in Scotland.

She was fighting her estranged husband Pasquale Riggi, from Colorado, in the courts over access to the children.

The couple had moved to Edinburgh 13 years ago.

Their bodies were discovered following a suspected gas explosion in August last year at the townhouse they shared with their mother.

At the Edinburgh’s High Court today, Riggi, 47, pleaded guilty to the culpable homicide of her three children on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

She had originally been charged with murder but admitted the lesser charges.

Prosecutors had alleged that Cecilia and the twins, who were also known as Augustino and

Gianluca, were repeatedly struck on the body with a knife or knives between August 2 and 4 last year.

She was also accused of recklessly causing a gas explosion.

Riggi was found badly injured after apparently falling from a second-floor balcony and the children’s bodies were discovered inside.

She was arrested in connection with the children’s deaths after post-mortem examinations, and a specially-convened court was held inside Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, where she was being treated.

Mr Riggi said: ‘The hardest moment without a doubt was when I first found out. Your life is all about your children, you have plans and you have dreams for them.

‘In one instant, that’s gone.’

‘The reality of it all is difficult to take all at once. You can’t even get your head around it.

‘The difficult part, obviously, is seeing constant reminders on a daily basis in front of you – it’s playing out in the newspapers and on TV. ‘

It’s almost like it’s happening to someone else and you keep asking yourself, “Is it me, is this my family?”. And then the reality hits you that it is.’

They lived in Lowestoft, then spent two years in Holland before moving to Aberdeen in February 2007. He last saw his children on July 4 when they were treated to a day out at Aberdeen beach to celebrate U.S. Independence Day.

SMH. What could have possibly made her think that was her best move???

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