Ex-husband of mother accused of children's Colorado deaths 'devastated'

Image caption, Seven-year-old Aden Wentz and his nine-year-old sister Elianna (Ellie) were found dead at a home in Colorado
  • Author, Suzanne Leigh
  • Role, 91热爆 News

The ex-husband of a woman facing extradition to the US accused of murdering her two children says he was "devastated" to learn they had died.

In a statement, Kevin Wentz said he and Kimberlee Singler had been involved in a contentious divorce.

His nine-year-old daughter Elianna and seven-year-old son Aden were found dead at a home in Colorado.

Ms Singler, 35, was arrested in London on Monday and faces extradition on charges including murder.

As well as the two counts of first degree murder, she is also charged with one count of attempted murder, three counts of child abuse and one count of assault.

The UK's National Crime Agency (NCA) said she had been arrested in the Kensington area "without incident" and appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Monday for an extradition hearing.

She was remanded in custody and will next appear in court on 29 January.

Her daughter and son were found dead on 19 December, along with her 11-year-old daughter who was injured, US police said.

They issued a warrant for her arrest a week later.

In a press release last week, Colorado Springs Police Department said it first responded to a 911 call reporting a burglary at a Colorado Springs residence at 00:29 local time on 19 December.

Image source, Dabb, Kory R.

Image caption, Ms Singler was arrested in London

Ms Singler and her eldest daughter were found injured and received treatment at the scene before being taken to hospital, it said.

The force later determined the initial report of burglary to be "unfounded".

In its latest release it confirmed she was arrested in the UK, and said more information would be shared at a news conference to be scheduled in the future.

In a statement issued by his lawyer, Mr Wentz said he fully co-operated with the police investigation and that he and his family were "suffering a tremendous amount of grief and shock."

A private funeral for Aden and Elianna (known as Ellie) has been planned for later next week.

The statement also said that the couple had been involved in a divorce and custody dispute since 2018.