Mom charged in bizarre death of twin toddlers will be headed to trial, judge says
The North Miami Beach mom whose two children were found dead in her car after she jumped from a flyover at the Golden Glades interchange will be headed to trial later this year, a judge said Thursday morning.
Shirlene Alcime, 44, must either go on trial on two manslaughter charges in May or reach a plea deal with prosecutors by May 4, Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Ellen Venzer said during the hearing.
READ MORE: Woman whose toddlers were found dead in her SUV charged with manslaughter. But why?
Alcime has been jailed since Feb. 2, 2024, when 3-year-old twins Milendhere and Milendijhit Cadet Napoleon were found lifeless in the back seat of their mother’s Toyota Highlander on the Golden Glades interchange, according to police. Alcime left them behind as she leapt from the overpass but survived the fall.
The Miami-Dade Medical Examiner ruled the twins’ deaths a homicide — by unspecified means, police say. The agency said it’s been blocked from sharing information since last year when state lawmakers passed The Rex and Brody Act, which prevents public access to autopsy photos and reports of minors killed through domestic violence.
READ MORE: Deaths of 3-year-old twins ruled a homicide, police say, and mom may face new charges
Alcime told police she planned a murder-suicide because of her financial woes, her arrest report said. She also said she considered tossing the twins before she jumped. A tow truck driver on the scene told police he told Alcime, who was near the car, to begin CPR on her daughter. When police arrived, she walked to the wall and jumped.
No visible wounds were found on the children, according to police. And in the almost two years since their deaths, no one has publicly said how they were killed. But Alcime did tell investigators that she didn’t give her children anything that would cause them to foam at the mouth, which is how they were found in the car, police say.
At the time of the killings, the twins’ father, Milson Cadet, told the Herald he was heartbroken and wanted answers.
“Justice will have to do its work,” Cadet said in Creole. “...I just want to definitely know what happened. I just want to know what happened.”
Prosecutor Natalie Snyder and Alcime’s attorney Lauren Dawson will be back in court for a hearing on April 27.
If you or someone you know is thinking about self-harm, call the toll-free National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by dialing 988. It’s available 24/7.
