UPDATE: Attempted Murder Charges Dropped Against Mother Ebony Wilkerson Who Drove Her Vehicle Into The Ocean With Her Children Inside! 3/07: charged with 3 counts attempted first-degree murder and 3 counts of aggravated child abuse

Yup, all over the local Orlando news...Nancy Grace is discussing as I type.

Posted: 10:22 p.m. Wednesday, March 5, 2014
Woman called 911 before sister drove car into ocean with 3 children inside

911 Call: Sister of woman who drove car into ocean calls 911 gallery


DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Channel 9 has obtained the 911 call made by the sister of a woman who drove her car, with her young children inside, into the ocean at Daytona Beach Tuesday.

In the call the woman told dispatchers her sister, Ebony Wilkerson, 32, was seeing demons. She wanted police come to her house to check on her sister.

"She's trying to drive and I'm trying to stop her," Jessica Harrell told dispatchers in the 911 call. "She's talking about Jesus and that there's demons in my house."

The call came about an hour before Wilkerson drove her car into the water.
"She's leaving and I don't want to chase after this car," Harrell said.

Daytona Beach Police caught up with Wilkerson, but according to their report, two officers spoke with her and they said there was nothing they could do, so she was let go.

Minutes later, she drove her minivan into the rough seas of Daytona Beach.

Ocoee resident Stacy Robinson said he heard the children screaming as the car went into the water.

"They were just screaming to the top of their lungs, 'Help, help help,'" said Robinson.

Robinson was one of the first to reach the van with Wilkerson's three young children inside.

"I saw a little boy out the window, maybe to his waist, flagging, screaming that they needed help," said Robinson.

In video of the rescue Robinson is seen walking with two of the children in his arms.

"I reached in, snatched the son out first and grabbed the daughter," said Robinson.

Lifeguards jumped in and got the third child out.

"It's still unbelievable. I'm still trying to process it," Robinson said.
Investigators said they don't know why Wilkerson, who is pregnant, drove the car into the water. They said they believe she might have come to Florida from South Carolina to get away from an abusive relationship.
During a news conference Wednesday, authorities said Wilkerson was already out of the van when lifeguards got to her and that she did not tell them there were children inside the car.
Authorities said Wilkerson did not tell them she was pregnant and also made no attempt to save the children.
No one was injured in the incident.

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Posted: 1:06 p.m. Friday, March 7, 2014

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — A woman who drove a van full of children into the surf in Daytona Beach has been charged with attempted first-degree murder, the Volusia County Sheriff's Office said Friday.

Channel 9 learned that Ebony Wilkerson, 32, had recently filed a police report alleging her husband had assaulted her. Myrtle Beach, S.C., police said Wilkerson filed the report March 1, saying her husband assaulted her while they were vacationing in Myrtle Beach.

Wilkerson drove her minivan, with her three children -- ages 3, 9 and 10 -- inside, into the ocean late Tuesday afternoon.

Ocoee resident Stacy Robinson said he heard the children screaming as the car went into the water.
"They were just screaming to the top of their lungs, 'Help, help, help,'" said Robinson.
Robinson, along with lifeguards, raced to pull the children out of the car as it was being battered by waves.

Shortly before Wilkerson drove into the water, her sister, Jessica Harrell, called 911, and told dispatchers Wilkerson was seeing demons and seemed a bit off that day.
"She's trying to drive and I'm trying to stop her," Harrell told dispatchers. "She's talking about Jesus and that there's demons in my house. She's leaving and I don't want to chase after this car," Harrell told dispatchers.

Officers stopped Wilkerson, who is from South Carolina, and spoke with her a couple of hours before she drove into the water, but said they said they did not have cause to detain her.

Daytona Beach Police Chief Michael Chitwood said the sister didn't give officers any indication Wilkerson would harm herself or her kids.

Chitwood said his department later learned Wilkerson's family tried to get her to voluntarily admit herself to a hospital the day before. He said if his officers had known about the attempt to get her to a hospital it would have been enough for them to take her into custody.

During a news conference Wednesday authorities said Wilkerson, who is pregnant, was already out of the van when lifeguards got to her and that she did not tell them there were children inside the car.

No one was injured in the incident. The Volusia County Sheriff's Office said the children were turned over to the care of the Florida Department of Children and Families. Wilkerson is still in the hospital.

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There is a press conference on as I type.

Posted: 10:51 a.m. Saturday, March 8, 2014

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — A judge has set bond for a mother who drove her minivan into the ocean with her children inside.
Ebony Wilkerson’s bond was set for more than $1 million dollars Saturday.
In court Wilkerson tried to dispute the bond.
“That is too much. That doesn’t make sense,” she told the judge. "Doesn't make sense"??   
As she was taken back to jail she was heard saying, "It doesn’t make sense," over and over again.
In the court house lobby family members refused to comment on questions from reporters, but Wilkerson's public defender said she will try to have Wilkerson's bond lowered.
“My intent will be to try and get a bond reduction hearing set sometime at the court’s earliest convenience,” said Wilkerson’s public defender, Jim Purdy.
A man who was with the family in the court urged people to be sympathetic.
“You need to have some type of sympathy knowing the family is going through something,” he said.
On Friday Wilkerson was charged with attempted first-degree murder, the Volusia County Sheriff's Office said.
As the 32-year-old drove her minivan full of her children -- ages 3, 9 and 10 -- into the rough ocean surf, she locked the doors of the van, put up the windows and told her three frightened children to "close their eyes and go to sleep," authorities said.
During a news conference Friday, the Volusia County Sheriff's Office said Wilkerson, who is nearly 30 weeks pregnant, has also been charged with child abuse.
"She tried to stop someone from going into the vehicle. That's one of the reasons you have a premeditated first-degree murder," said Johnson.
One of the children told authorities Wilkerson drove into the surf, saying she was doing it to “keep all of us safe.”
The oldest child grabbed the steering wheel and unsuccessfully tried to steer the vehicle away from the water, authorities said.
"It's a very disappointing thing because you are supposed to protect your children," Johnson said.
During an interview with a sheriff’s investigator, a witness who helped with the rescue reported seeing a child on Wilkerson’s lap and said the two were fighting for control of the steering wheel.
One of the children pushed the power button to lower the windows and the children started screaming for help.
By the time the vehicle stopped, witnesses said the ocean water was rushing into the minivan and the vehicle was quickly filling up.
When lifeguards and beachgoers ran to the van to help, Wilkerson told them everything was OK, authorities said, but she did not mention that her children were still in the car.
Lifeguards and good Samaritans, however, heard the children screaming that their mother was trying to kill them and were able to safely rescue them.
Ocoee resident Stacy Robinson said Tuesday he could hear the children screaming as the car went into the water.
"They were just screaming to the top of their lungs, 'Help, help, help,'" said Robinson.
One witness said that beach safety officers had to fend off Wilkerson during the rescue because she was grabbing at the officer and trying to stop him from entering the vehicle.
The children were taken to the hospital for evaluation, telling authorities, “Mom tried to kill us."
The oldest child told officers that her mother took them to the beach “so we could die.”
The Volusia County Sheriff's Office said the children were turned over to the care of the Florida Department of Children and Families.
Channel 9 learned that Wilkerson had recently filed a police report alleging her husband had assaulted her.  Authorities in Myrtle Beach, S.C., said Wilkerson filed the report March 1, saying her husband assaulted her while they were vacationing there.
Volusia County investigators said they expected to question the father and he was supposed to be in Florida Thursday but he hasn't shown up.
They said a judge will ultimately decide if he gets custody of the children.
"You want to go into it all the way to look at it to make sure that what you're doing is the correct thing, that you're doing the correct thing for the children, the mother and for everybody involved," said Johnson

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Wouldn't surprise me if Bozo takes this case. This woman is delusional and that's an understatement. IMHO she should have NO bond. Nite, I completely agree w/you.

Posted: 3:34 p.m. Tuesday, March 11, 2014

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Channel 9 has learned the sister of a woman accused of trying to kill her three children by driving her minivan into the ocean in Daytona Beach has filed an injunction against her brother-in-law.

Ebony Wilkerson is jailed on a $1.2 million bond after being charged with attempted first-degree murder and child abuse.

Video shot by beachgoers last week shows Wilkerson and her minivan full of children -- ages 3, 9 and 10 -- in the rough ocean surf at Daytona Beach Tuesday.

Channel 9 learned Wilkerson had recently filed a police report alleging her husband, Lutful Ronjon, had assaulted her.

Authorities in Myrtle Beach, S.C., said Wilkerson filed the report March 1, saying her husband assaulted her while they were vacationing there.
On Tuesday, Wilkerson's sister, Jessica Herrell, filed an injunction against Ronjon, claiming she feared for her life.

Herrell told investigators Ronjon threatened to kill her and she believes the family is in danger of repeat violence.

A Volusia County judge has issued a restraining order against Ronjon, ordering him to have no contact with his wife's family.

In an affidavit for the injunction, Herrell said Ronjon "threatened to kill me and my sister" if she helped Wilkerson escape her allegedly abusive marriage.

The injunction is good for only 15 days unless it's extended. Its protection extends to other members of Herrell's family, including her child.

Lutful’s lawyer sent WFTV a statement saying, “The domestic violence allegations concerning Mr. Ronjon were baseless and are the result of extreme mental illness.”

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Even if "Lutful" was abusive, this does not give license for this 30 week pregnant 'mother' to drive her and her 3 children into the ocean. That was some VERY rough surf. What if no one had been in the vicinity?

She showed ZERO emotion until her bond was read.

Posted: 1:35 p.m. Monday, March 17, 2014

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — A pregnant mother accused of trying to kill her three children by driving her minivan into the ocean in Daytona Beach earlier this month is accused of punching herself in the stomach while jailed, Channel 9 has learned.

The details came out Monday during a bond hearing for Ebony Wilkerson, 32, who is charged with attempted first-degree murder and child abuse and being held on $1.2 million bond.

On Tuesday, prosecutors said Wilkerson was sent to Halifax Hospital's psychiatric ward a second time for a psychiatric evaluation after she punched herself in the stomach while jailed.
"That was the reason why she was Baker Acted and brought back to the facility," said State Attorney R.J. Larizza.
In court, Wilkerson's attorney requested her client be kept in the psychiatric ward, and a doctor who testified said he believes Wilkerson "can be helped," but the judge did not rule on the request.

The hearing has been continued until March 25.

An OB/GYN testified Monday that Wilkerson is 28 weeks pregnant and that she should be going to weekly checkups. The OB/GYN testified that Wilkerson's pregnancy is not low-risk, which requires her to be seen more regularly than someone with a normal pregnancy.

That doctor also suggested Wilkerson be held at Halifax Hospital for regular treatment during her pregnancy.

During the hearing, it was revealed that Wilkerson allegedly punched herself in the stomach, which resulted in her being sent to a psychiatric hospital as a result of the Baker Act.

The state has since said Wilkerson must be in the sight of corrections officers at all times.

In the court house lobby family members refused to comment on questions from reporters, but Wilkerson's public defender said he will try to have Wilkerson's bond lowered.

The children told police their mother locked the doors of the van, put up the windows and told them to "close their eyes and go to sleep," authorities said.

One of the children told authorities Wilkerson drove into the surf, saying she was doing it to “keep all of us safe.”
The oldest child grabbed the steering wheel and unsuccessfully tried to steer the vehicle away from the water, authorities said.
One of the children pushed the power button to lower the windows and the children started screaming for help.
By the time the vehicle stopped, witnesses said the ocean water was rushing into the minivan and the vehicle was quickly filling up.

When lifeguards and beachgoers ran to the van to help, Wilkerson told them everything was OK, authorities said, but she did not mention that her children were still in the car.

Lifeguards and good Samaritans, however, heard the children screaming that their mother was trying to kill them and were able to safely rescue them.

No one was injured in the incident.

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By ASSOCIATED PRESS and DAILY MAIL REPORTER

PUBLISHED: 10:47 EST, 25 March 2014 | UPDATED: 16:37 EST, 25 March 2014

A pregnant South Carolina woman accused of driving her car into the ocean with her three children on board will be allowed to receive in-hospital psychiatric care until a doctor says she's fit to return to jail.

Ebony Wilkerson, 32, was given the news during a 10-minute bond hearing Tuesday in Daytona Beach. It was a continuation of a hearing that began last week, however, Judge Leah Case wanted to hear more testimony before making a decision as to whether she required more mental health care.

Wilkerson's defense attorneys also agreed to withdraw a request to reduce her $1.2 million bond on six felony charges — including attempted murder. They can refile it later.

Staying put: Ebony Wilkerson, 32, pictured Tuesday, who is charged with attempted murder after she drove her car into the ocean with her three children inside, will be allowed to receive in-hospital psychiatric care until a doctor says she's fit to return to jail, according to an agreement

Wilkerson will also receive prenatal care and be allowed supervised exercise time.

Last week, a Florida court heard that Wilkerson tried to harm her unborn child as well as her three children.

The pregnant woman was seen ‘beating her stomach with her fists’ after her arrest, it was claimed in a bond hearing.

She has been charged with attempted murder after driving her minivan into the ocean at Daytona Beach. Her three children, aged three, nine and 10, were rescued by witnesses and lifeguards.

Authorities said Wilkerson, who had driven from her home in South Carolina, deliberately drove into the ocean while her three kids were strapped inside.

Details of her attempt to harm her unborn child came from State Attorney R.J. Larizza who said Wilkerson was taken to a psychiatric ward when she was seen 'beating her stomach with her fists' after her arrest.

He told a court her unborn child was at risk saying she was 'helpless.'

Chief Assistant Public Defender Craig S. Dyer suggested Wilkerson's actions resulted from inhumane conditions.

He said at the time she was being held naked in an isolation cell.

Dyer argued that Wilkerson should have her $1.2million bond suspended and she should be admitted to Halifax Health for care.

'I believe that Mrs. Wilkerson can be helped,' said Dr. James Moore, a psychiatrist. He described Wilkerson's detention as so restrictive that it will complicate mental health treatment.

'She's limited in her ability even for such things as getting fresh air.'

The judge also heard from Dr. Pamela Carbiener, an obstetrics and gynecology specialist, who said Wilkerson's pregnancy is complicated by several factors and she has risk factors for premature birth.

'I think she has significant high-risk issues,' Carbiener said.

Judge Leah Case declined to release Wilkerson to the hospital at that point.

That's when she set up today's follow-up hearing, inviting the defense to provide case law supporting its proposal.

Wilkerson's family has said she drove into the water days after leaving her husband, following 14 years of abuse in South Carolina.

Her children have told investigators she had been behaving erratically since arriving in Florida.

Tourists on the beach caught the horrifying ordeal on camera, and the footage shows that Wilkerson was physically able to escape the vehicle.

Witnesses described her hopping out of the car window as her screaming children remained seat-belted in the back. Waves nearly pushed her under the van.

'It was a bit terrifying,' said Besner.

In the video, several men frantically try to get to the third and youngest child through the hatchback and the driver's side door as waves lap over the front of the minivan.

The small child is eventually pulled to safety.

Another tourist described watching with horror.

'My friend pointed out that there was a car getting really close to the beach and actually started driving on the water,' Taylor Quintin visiting the area from Vermont told Local 6.

'I saw a kid in the back waving his arms around screaming, 'Help us! Help us!' And the car kept going deeper.'

'That's when I saw a guy from the beach run over next to the car and take out two small children and walk them back up. Another guy ran out and brought a little toddler out of the car'.

Many added that there was no way the incident was an accident.

Leonard R. Ross, an attorney representing Wilkerson's husband, Lutful Ronjon, released the following statement late Monday: 'My client continues to pray for his wife's wellbeing and sincerely hopes that mental health professionals will address her issues.'

Last week is was revealed that Wilkerson had been involved in a car crash that claimed a woman's life in 2007.

Jennifer Krane, had just given birth when she and husband Dough were slammed into by Ebony Wilkerson on a freeway near Fort Lauderdale.

On the day of the deadly wreck, Wilkerson was going northbound on Interstate 95 when she switched lanes and slammed into the rear of a Nissan operated by Doug Krane, who was driving with his wife and infant son in the car.

The impact sent Krane's car skidding across the road and into a concrete barrier. Jennifer Krane suffered critical injuries in the collision and died several days later.

Wilkerson was cited for improper lane change, lost her license for a year and was ordered to serve 132 hours of community service, according to court records.

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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The mother who is accused of trying to kill her three children by driving her minivan into the ocean in Daytona Beach in March has given birth.

Officials with the Florida Department of Children and Families said Ebony Wilkerson gave birth and the child has been turned over to family members. Officials offered no other information.

Wilkerson, 32, was initially charged with attempted first-degree murder and child abuse was held on $1.2 million bond. The charges were later reduced to three counts of attempted second-degree murder and three counts of child abuse.

In March prosecutors said Wilkerson was sent to Halifax Hospital's psychiatric ward a second time for a psychiatric evaluation after she punched herself in the stomach while jailed.

"That was the reason why she was Baker Acted and brought back to the facility," said State Attorney R.J. Larizza.

The children told police their mother locked the doors of the van, put up the windows and told them to "close their eyes and go to sleep," authorities said.

One of the children told authorities Wilkerson drove into the surf, saying she was doing it to “keep all of us safe.”
The oldest child grabbed the steering wheel and unsuccessfully tried to steer the vehicle away from the water, authorities said.

One of the children pushed the power button to lower the windows and the children started screaming for help.
By the time the vehicle stopped, witnesses said the ocean water was rushing into the minivan and the vehicle was quickly filling up.

When lifeguards and beachgoers ran to the van to help, Wilkerson told them everything was OK, authorities said, but she did not mention that her children were still in the car.



Lifeguards and good Samaritans, however, heard the children screaming that their mother was trying to kill them and were able to safely rescue them.

No one was injured in the incident.

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Yup..there are always peeps on the beach even in pouring rain..just so thankful the peeps that saw this happening took action. How could you not?

Posted: 11:44 p.m. Friday, May 30, 2014

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The mother accused of trying to kill her children when she drove her minivan into the ocean in Daytona Beach bonded out of jail around 10:30 p.m. Friday.

On Thursday, a judge reduced the bail amount for Ebony Wilkerson to $90,000.

There were conditions to her bail, however, including having no contact with children.

Wilkerson had been in custody since March, when rescuers saved her and her children from the van.

She is charged with three counts each of attempted murder and child abuse.

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It doesn't say this in the above article but I heard on News Channel 13 that she is to have no contact w/the baby she just gave birth to as well.

Last Updated: Saturday, May 31, 2014, 7:15 AM

DAYTONA BEACH --
The woman who drove her van full of children into the Atlantic Ocean has posted bond and is out of jail.

During a May 29 hearing, a judge reduced Ebony Wilkerson's bond to $90,000 from $1.2 million.

Wilkerson bonded out jail around 11 p.m. Friday.

Wilkerson can't have any contact with her children while she's out on bond. She must also see a psychologist or psychiatrist and give proof of taking her medications.

She is charged with three counts of attempted first-degree murder and child abuse.

Prosecutors said Wilkerson planned to kill her three children by intentionally driving her minivan into the ocean in Volusia County. Bystanders rescued the kids.

Since the incident, she has given birth to another child.

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She should be charged w/4 counts of attempted murder IMHO.

Ebony Wilkerson blames OTC medication for positive alcohol test

By Jason Wheeler, Volusia County Reporter
Last Updated: Friday, September 05, 2014, 11:32 AM

DAYTONA BEACH --
The mom accused of trying to kill her children by driving her van into the Atlantic Ocean March 4 was back in court Friday morning where she faced questions about a violation of the conditions of her pre-trial release.

During the court appearance, Ebony Wilkerson admitted to having alcohol in her system.

It was caught during a random urinalysis last month.

Wilkerson’s attorney said his client was feeling ill. She tried to find an over-the-counter medication without alcohol and took one with 10 percent alcohol by mistake.

Prosecutors accepted her excuse, but said if they had to argue the point, they felt it was a highly unlikely story.

However, Judge Leah Case put an additional stipulation on Wilkerson's release. She must now undergo weekly random tests to make sure no illegal drugs or alcohol is in her system.

“She doesn't drink,” said James Purdy, Wilkerson’s public defender. “And that's, throughout the entire proceedings, she's had many urinalysis both through pre-trial services and through Stewart-Marchman since this case was started, since she was released. Never had any indication of alcohol until this one time.”

Wilkerson and her family did not speak to the press following the hearing.

Another pre-trail hearing is scheduled for Sept. 16.
Wilkerson bonded out of the Volusia County Jail Friday, May 30, one day after a judge reduced her bond from $1.2 million to $90,000.

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12/10/14

Prosecutors plan to drop charges of attempted murder against the South Carolina woman who drove a minivan into the Atlantic Ocean with her three children inside.

The mother, Ebony Wilkerson, will instead plead not guilty by reason of insanity to three counts of aggravated child abuse, said Ludi Lelis, a court spokeswoman in Daytona Beach, Florida.

On March 4, Wilkerson locked the doors of the minivan, rolled up the windows and told the children to close their eyes and go to sleep, then steered into the Daytona surf, according to investigators.

Bystanders charged into the water and freed the children, ages 10, 9 and 3, from the bobbing minivan. Investigators said the 10-year-old told them Wilkerson took them to the beach "so we could die."

The defense and prosecution reviewed doctor's reports and interviews and agreed that Wilkerson had suffered a psychotic episode, Lelis said. A judge still wants to hear from Wilkerson's doctors on Friday before signing off on the agreement and ruling later on further treatment, she said.

Wilkerson, 33, was released from jail in May on the condition that she have no contact with the three children, who are in state custody. A judge has since allowed her to write letters, which must be reviewed by a case manager.

Wilkerson gave birth to a baby boy in jail, Lelis said. The baby is with his father, she said. Wilkerson has been undergoing mental health treatment and has had "absolutely no problems since she's given birth," Craig Dyer, her court-appointed lawyer, said in an interview.

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She looks like a completely different person..I do not Buy she was "Insane"..