Photo by voteprime.

Some tragic and disturbing news out of Montgomery County this morning: A Germantown mother is charged with two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted first-degree murder after allegedly killing two of her children—and trying to kill her two others—while performing what she described as an exorcism, according to police. Additionally, another woman was also arrested and is also being charged with two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted first-degree murder.

According to police, 28-year-old Zakieya L. Avery and 21-year-old Monifa Sanford were arrested Friday morning after they discovered four children—Avery’s children—had been assaulted. Two children were pronounced dead on the scene. Police say the deceased children were identified as one-year-old Norell N. Harris and two-year-old Zyana Z. Harris. The two injured children—also Avery’s—were identified as five-year-old Taniya Harris and eight-year-old Martello Harris. All four children suffered multiple stab wounds.

Investigators said that the two women “believed that they were performing an exorcism,” and said that the investigation into this motive and other aspects of the crime are still underway.

Avery and Sanford were arrested on Friday morning after police received reports of evidence of some sort of struggle outside of Avery’s house on the 1900 block of Cherry Bend Drive in Germantown, Md. Police say neighbors called 911 after spotting an open car door and a bloody knife near it. The previous night, police had received a 911 call to the same address after a neighbor called and reported a child left alone in a parked car outside, the Post reports. Before police arrived, Avery reportedly brought the child back inside and when police knocked on Avery’s townhouse, she didn’t answer. They called child welfare services and someone was scheduled to follow-up on the incident the next day.

“Cases like this are heartbreaking” Montgomery County Police Chief Tom Manger said in a release. “Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the victims along with the 911 operators, police officers, evidence technicians, and fire and EMS personnel that responded.” At this time, both Avery and Sanford are being held without bond.