MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – A woman from North Miami Beach is now facing charges of child neglect after allegedly attempting to end her life by jumping off an Interstate 95 overpass, leaving her 3-year-old fraternal twins in her SUV. The incident occurred on February 2, and the Miami-Dade Police Department announced the arrest of Shirlene Alcime, 42, on Thursday afternoon.
According to the police report, Alcime, who was admitted to HCA Florida Aventura Hospital, confessed to investigators that she had been planning to “murder” her two children, Milendhet and Milendhere Napoleon-Cadet, for the past two months due to financial difficulties and debt.
Alcime admitted to driving around all day on February 1, searching for a bridge to jump from, and ultimately chose one in the northbound lanes near the Florida’s Turnpike extension early the next morning.
The report indicates that Alcime considered jumping off the bridge with both children or throwing them off one by one before jumping herself. She confessed to walking away while both children were foaming at the mouth upon hearing police sirens.
Before attempting suicide, she instructed a tow truck driver who had stopped to help to call 911 for her children. The twins, a boy and a girl, were taken to Jackson North Medical Center where they were pronounced dead.
During questioning, Alcime provided detailed information about her whereabouts and the events leading up to the incident. However, when asked specifically about what caused the children to foam at the mouth and become unresponsive, she denied giving them anything and claimed ignorance about what happened.
Police are awaiting a toxicology report from the Miami-Dade Medical Examiner’s Office to determine the cause and manner of death of the twins.
Alcime is currently being held without bond as per police statements.