Sheriff: Mother admits to making both her children drink bleach, killing one

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — Osceola County deputies have released new details in the case of a mother and her two children found unconscious in a car near Poinciana on Mother’s Day.

On Tuesday, the Osceola County Sheriff said Joanne Zephir admitted to making both her children drink bleach and choking her three-year-old to death.

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Read: One child dies, another hospitalized after woman found unconscious in car in Poinciana, deputies say

According to deputies, on Mother’s Day Zephir called a family member to say she killed her 3-year-old child and that her 8-year-old was about to die.

Investigators were able to track Zephir’s phone to a park in the area of Old Pleasant Hill Road in the Poinciana area.

See map of location below:

When deputies arrived, they found Zephir unconscious inside the car with her 3-year-old child and the 8-year-old unconscious near the roadway.

All three were taken to a hospital, but the 3-year-old did not survive.

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Investigators said Zephir told them it was a voodoo spell that made her harm her children.

Zephir is currently in the Osceola County jail facing attempted murder and child abuse charges.

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Deputies said she could face more serious charges once a toxicology report is finalized.

Video: One child dies, another hospitalized after woman found unconscious in car in Poinciana, deputies say Deputies in Osceola County are investigating the death of a child on Mother’s Day. (WFTV)

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