Phoenix Mother Accused of Murdering 2 Daughters With Prescription Drugs

Last week news rocked the valley of a story that a mother had allegedly taken the lives of her two young daughters and then inflicted severe stab wounds on herself.

According to court documents the Phoenix mother was booked Tuesday on two counts of first-degree murder for allegedly killing her two daughters with prescription drugs.

Retta Renee Cruse, 35, had been hospitalized since the Sept. 8 incident in an apartment near 13th Street and Mountain View Road.

According to the probable cause statement, police found the two deceased girls, ages 4 and 9, on a bed with their arms around each other as if they’d been placed in that position. The young victims showed no signs of injuries.

While toxicology results are still pending, investigators said they found a bottle of oxycodone and other evidence that Cruse used over-the-counter and prescription drugs to sedate and overdose the girls.

Police said they found a signed letter on the scene saying she was worried about losing custody of the girls after a recent hearing.

Cruse was arrested at 2 p.m. on Tuesday at John C. Lincoln Medical Center.

Her bond was set at $2 million. Her status conference was scheduled for Monday, and her preliminary hearing for Sept. 23.