JEFFERSON COUNTY — A Pevely mother charged with killing her two young children on Wednesday pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.

After undergoing two mental evaluations, Ashley Parmeley was found to be mentally unfit to stand trial and was committed to the Missouri Department of Mental Health by Judge Joseph Rathert.

She had been charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of armed criminal action in the deaths of her children, Scarlet Parmeley, 9, and Isaac Parmeley, 2.

"Parmeley underwent an evaluation by an independent forensic examiner at the request of her attorney," a press release from the Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney's office said. "This evaluation concluded that she was unable to comprehend the wrongfulness of her actions during the incident."

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