Two children were brutally stabbed to death, and their two siblings injured, in an attack brought forth by their own mother, 28-year-old Zakieya L. Avery. Avery was arrested and charged with four different felonies by the Montgomery County Police Department in Maryland. The charges consist of two counts of first-degree murder and another two counts of attempted first-degree murder. Another woman, who was injured during the rampage, was also charged in the two deaths.

"Cases like this are heartbreaking," county Police Chief Tom Manger remarked. "Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the victims."

The reason behind the murders is very disturbing. Avery and the yet-to-be-identified other woman believed the four children were possessed by evil spirits! The only way to save the children's souls from further damnation was to perform four exorcisms. You heard right, two women believed young children, just one, two, five and eight years of age, were taken over by demons. If no one was injured, let alone killed, the story may have taken on a more humorous tone.

Why the two women believed the kids needed an exorcism is anyone's guess.

"Investigators have learned that the two defendants believed that they were performing an exorcism. The investigation into this motive and other aspects of the crime continue at this point," police said.

An alert resident called police Thursday night after witnessing a child sitting in a car unattended. By the time police arrived the child was no longer seated in the vehicle. That led police to knock on the door of the Germantown, MD townhouse where the gruesome crimes took place.

"Prior to officers arriving, two women exited the townhouse, retrieved the child and re-entered the home," Montgomery County Police said. "Officers attempted to speak with the residents, but received no response at the door.

It wasn't until the following morning that police were called back to the scene and found the children in a bloody heap. If protocol called for a more extensive initial investigation perhaps these mad women would have been stopped.

Do you believe in exorcisms? Perhaps you think the whole idea of evil spirits invading one's body is ludicrous. Whatever your position let us know in the comments section below.