Affidavit: Joseph Slit Her Wrists Before Running

COLORADO SPRINGS – Maria Joseph apparently cut her own wrists and neck the night she allegedly set her children on fire according to anaffidavit obtainedbyNEWSCHANNEL 13. The 25-year-old mother of five is being held on first degree murder charges after her one-year-old was killed in the fire. According to the affidavit, police received a 911 call from an unknown female just after 10:00 p.m. Monday night. She gave 3225 Galena Court as the address, but did not say anything about what was happening at that address. 911 operators said they then heard a child say, “Why did you kill him.” A child then came on the phone and said that “oil” was on fire and everyone in the house was hurt.

The affidavit goes on to describe how emergency crews were sent to the home where they extinguished the fire. They found multiple children burned inside and one child deceased. One of the children, a 5-year-old boy, had a cut to his throat. Two of the chidren have been transfered to out-of-state hospitals, while the others are at Denver Children’s Hospital. All 4 are in critical condition.

Joseph was found shortly after she ran from the house. She was taken to Penrose Main Hospital for treatment of her injuries, which included superficial cuts to her wrists and neck. The emergency room doctor who treated her said the wounds appeared to be self-inflicted and were not life-threatening.

Investigation has shown the fire was started in the master bedroom and that it was deliberately set.