Opening Statements Begin in Deadly Deerfield RV Park Standoff Trial

Mother charged with manslaughter, child neglect in fatal SWAT standoff

Opening statements began Tuesday in the trial of a Florida woman charged with aggravated manslaughter and child neglect in a deadly Deerfield Beach RV park standoff that ended with her husband stabbing his entire family.

Deanna DeJesus, 38, has pleaded not guilty and remains behind bars on $350,000 bond in the Feb. 9 incident at the Highland Woods RV Park.

According to the Broward Sheriff's Office, 41-year-old William De Jesus, from Port Orange, drove his red Ford Mustang into the RV park with Deanna De Jesus and the couple's two sons, ages seven and nine.

Mother in Deadly Deerfield RV Park Standoff Pleads Not Guilty

William De Jesus, who was an Oxycodone addict and who was found to have cocaine in his body, shot and killed 76-year-old Oliva Plante, then took Plante's girlfriend, Pierrette Beauchemin, hostage in the couple's RV, police said.

In the RV, William De Jesus stabbed his 9-year-old and 7-year-old sons several times. Deanna De Jesus didn't stop the stabbing of her children, and "protested only when her husband stabbed her," authorities said.

A defense attorney argued Tuesday that she was unable to help her kids due to a stab wound to her leg.

When Deanna De Jesus realized her husband was dead and that one of her sons was alive, she didn't go or call for help, authorities said.

Dad in RV Standoff Told Son He'd 'Get Eaten'

After five hours, a SWAT team entered the RV and found William De Jesus and one son dead. The other son and Deanna De Jesus were critically wounded, but both survived.

Both William De Jesus and and the son he killed had cocaine in their systems when they died, authorities said.

Deanna De Jesus also told a witness that she knew her husband sometimes gave their sons drugs, authorities said.  Officials said William De Jesus probably drove to South Florida to buy drugs.

No Contact for Mom, Son Who Survived Deerfield Standoff

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