Illinois Dad Kills His 3 Children by Drowning Them in a Bathtub During Custodial Visit

An Illinois dad was charged with three counts of murder after he allegedly drowned his three children during a custodial visit on Monday.

Round Lake Beach Police said officers responded to a call before 1:30 p.m. for a welfare check and discovered the bodies of Bryant, 5, Cassidy, 3, and Gideon, 2, in a bedroom. According to People, Jason Karels, the children's father, was not at his home along with his vehicle.

As police investigated inside the home, authorities spotted Karels' red Nissan Maxima along I-57 and pursued him. The 17-minute high-speed chase ended when the Illinois dad crashed his vehicle.

In a press conference, Round Lake Beach Police Chief Gilbert Rivera said that Karels admitted to police officers involved in the chase, who were wearing body-worn cameras, that he killed his three children.

"He also said he attempted to commit suicide several times after the deaths of the children but was unsuccessful during these attempts," Rivera added.

Karels was taken to a hospital to treat his injuries after the chase. He was transferred to Lake County Jail on Tuesday. The Illinois dad is being held on a $10 million bond, according to the police.

Illinois Dad Left a Shocking Note Before Killing His Kids

During a bond hearing on Wednesday, prosecutors revealed that the Illinois dad left a creepy note for his estranged wife, The Daily Beast reported.

Lake County State's Attorney Eric Rinehart said Jason Karels left a note in the home that reads: "If I can't have them, neither can you." According to the prosecutors, the Illinois dad penned the grisly note after he drowned his kids one at a time in the bathroom.

Debra Karels, the estranged wife of the Illinois dad, was the one who called the authorities to perform a welfare check at his home. The devastated mom told The Daily Beast that she intended to pick up her kids for a doctor's appointment.

Rivera said investigators were not aware of any history of abuse of the children or if the Illinois dad had any history of mental illness or criminal history.

"We were not familiar with this family nor with the house, but I can tell you we're all deeply affected," he added.

Mom of 3 Kids Killed by Illinois Dad Speaks Out After Tragedy

Debra Karels said her three kids did not deserve what happened to them, adding that they have "beautiful souls" and were amazing. She noted that she even talked to the children the night before.

"I said, 'I love you so much. I can't wait to see you tomorrow.' And the next day, they're gone," Debra noted.

Reacting to his estranged husband's killing her kids, she said Karels knew that nothing mattered to her "more than those children," so "he took them away from me because he knew it would hurt me the most."

According to reports, Debra was seeking a divorce and asked her husband to get help for his suicidal thoughts and mental illness.

The Illinois dad and his wife seemed to have an ongoing custody battle. The children were reportedly dropped off with him for the weekend as part of their agreement.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Joshua Summers

WATCH: Father Charged With Drowning 3 Children in Round Lake Beach Due in Bond Court - From WGN News