Woman accused of trying to murder 2 children

A 51-year-old woman is accused of stabbing two girls she was babysitting, ages 4 and 1, at their home in Lisle, authorities said.

Jennifer Kouchoukos is charged with two counts of attempted first-degree murder, two counts of aggravated battery of a victim under age 13, and two counts of aggravated battery using a deadly weapon.

DuPage County Judge Joshua Dieden denied pretrial release to Kouchoukos Wednesday.

Prosecutors asked for a psychiatric evaluation of Kouchoukos.

Around 5:15 p.m. Nov. 17 Lisle police were called to a residence on Matson Lane for a report of attempted suicide, according to a news release from the DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office.

They saw one of the girls sitting in a bathroom, and another nearby on the kitchen floor. Both were covered in blood, having been stabbed in their backs and chests.

Kouchoukos also was found in the bathroom, wearing blood-soaked clothes. She did not respond to questions or commands, according to the news release.

The children were treated at Comer Children’s Hospital in Chicago.

Police found multiple knives stained with what appeared to be blood, an empty bottle of wine and a nearly empty bottle of rum.

Kouchoukos was taken to a hospital. She was released Tuesday and taken to the DuPage County jail.

Kouchoukos lives in the 3300 block of Rolling Ridge Road, Naperville.

“This is an extremely disturbing case for all those involved,” State’s Attorney Robert Berlin said in the release. “We are all very grateful that the injuries sustained by the young girls in this case were not life threatening and that they both appear to be on the road to recovery.”

Lisle Police Chief Kevin Licko commended the officers who responded to “a horrific incident.”

“I cannot praise them enough,” he said in the release. “Once they knew there were injured children inside, the officers rushed into the house without hesitation.”

Kouchoukos’ next court date is Jan. 12.