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Round Lake Beach mother shares her sorrow after her 3 children were allegedly murdered by her estranged husband

Round Lake Beach
Bryant Karels, 5, Cassidy Karels, 3, and Gideon Karels, 2.
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ROUND LAKE BEACH (WBBM NEWSRADIO) - The Round Lake Beach mother whose estranged husband is alleged to have murdered their three young children said he struggled with mental health issues and wanted to hurt her.

Debra Karels spoke through her pain, two days after finding her children's bodies on a bed.
Prosecutors said each had been drowned by their father.


"I wish I was there for them that day. I wish I was there to grab them before this all happened," Karels said.

She said her children, 5-year-old Bryant, 3-year-old Cassidy, and 2-year-old Gideon, were "three beautiful little souls"

"The most important thing to me were the kids, and he knew that. He knew that and he took them away from me because he knew that it would hurt me the most," Karels added.

There had been mental and physical abuse, she said, and that her husband has struggled with mental health issues, but she never would have thought something like this would happen.

"I never worried about the children because you love your children and you should never do anything to your children," said Karels.

They were going through a divorce. She left with the children a month ago.

Debra Karels said she decided to speak because she wants other women to be aware that domestic and mental health struggles can happen to anyone and help is available.

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