Court rejects Iowa woman's appeal of conviction for attack on young sons

DES MOINES, Iowa (WHO) -- The Iowa Court of Appeals on Wednesday affirmed the murder and attempted murder convictions of a Coralville woman who in 2008 slashed the throats of her two young sons, killing one and injuring the other.

Michelle Kehoe drove her children to a secluded location near Littleton in October 2008. She taped their eyes shut and slashed them with a knife before cutting her own throat. She survived and initially claimed a man attacked them but later admitted she did it.

The 2-year-old boy died but the 7-year-old survived and testified at her trial.

Her appeal alleged that her attorney was ineffective because he didn't try to suppress incriminating statements she made to investigators while in the hospital and failed to claim she was mentally incompetent to stand trial in post-trial motions.

The court in affirming her conviction said she failed to prove her lawyer was ineffective. The judges concluded although she had mental health issues, she understood the charges against her and participated in her defense. They also concluded she had voluntarily offered a confession to investigators in the hospital and was not coerced into talking.