A 32-year-old Madisonville mother was charged Thursday with trying to kill her three daughters — and herself — by closing all the windows in the family home and turning on the gas stove June 6.

        An adult friend who stopped by the house found the stove on and alerted the mother.

        Thurmell Maley, of the 5300 block of Tompkins Avenue, was charged with three counts of attempted murder and three counts of child endangerment.

        “We believe her intent was to commit suicide and take her three children with her,” said Cincinnati police Sgt. David Wuest.

        Ms. Maley closed the windows in her apartment about 11 a.m. that Wednesday, and told her three daughters — ages 14, 7 and 6 — to take a nap, Sgt. Wuest said. The mother turned on the gas and lay down with her children, he said.

        But the 7-year-old woke up and smelled something she described as “funny,” Sgt. Wuest said. Just as she was rousing the older sister, the family friend — who was not identified — stopped by.

        He woke Ms. Maley and the other child, then took the mother to an a hospital, where health-care workers contacted police.

        Sgt. Wuest said police had a difficult time tracking down Ms. Maley after she was treated.

        After she was charged Thursday, she was taken to University Hospital for a psychiatric evaluation. She did not give police an explanation for the incident.

        The children have been placed with relatives by the Department of Human Services.

        “To the best of my knowledge, they're all in good health,” Sgt. Wuest said of the kids.

        His advice for any parent who thinks he or she can't take care of their kids is to contact 241-KIDS, Sgt. Wuest said.

        "Everybody has their breaking point," he said.

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