Fort Wayne mother accused of killing children to undergo evaluation today

GOSHEN, Ind. (AP) — A Fort Wayne woman accused of abducting her two young children and smothering them is scheduled to undergo her first psychiatric evaluation.

Attorneys for 29-year-old Amber Pasztor are seeking a defense of mental disease or defect. She is charged with two counts of murder in the Sept. 26 killings of 7-year-old Liliana Hernandez and 6-year-old Rene Pasztor after their abduction from their custodial grandparents’ home.

Public Defender Peter Soldato filed a motion in October asking the court to appoint two or three psychiatric professionals to determine if Pasztor is competent to stand trial.

Elkhart County Circuit Judge Terry Shewmaker ordered the psychiatric evaluations. The Goshen News reports she is scheduled to have her first evaluation today, Nov. 25.

Prosecutors are seeking a life sentence without parole.