Family says it will support mom accused of killing 3 sons

PHOENIX — The family of a Phoenix woman accused of killing her three young sons earlier this month say they will back her in what will likely be a “marathon” through the criminal-justice system.

Octavia Rogers, 29, is held on suspicion of first-degree murder in the stabbing deaths of her three sons: Jaikare Rahaman, 8; Jeremiah Adams, 5; and Avery Robinson, 2 months.

“I just think you guys need to know that my daughter loved her kids,” Rogers’ mother, Tanella McCoy, said Monday outside Maricopa County Superior Court downtown . “She is a very beautiful person. … She loved her boys unconditionally.”

The family's lawyer, Benjamin Taylor, said family members wanted to express their gratitude for the outpouring of public support.

“We have a long road ahead of us and struggle every day with trying to cope and rebuild,” Taylor said, reading from a statement. “Given the circumstances, we love and support Octavia unconditionally.”

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About 10 of Rogers’ family members and supporters flanked Taylor as he spoke, many clutching framed photos of Rogers and her boys.

In the early morning hours of June 2, Phoenix police discovered the boys’ bodies partially dismembered and stuffed in a closet at Rogers’ home. Avery, the youngest, was in a suitcase.

Officers had been called after Rogers' brother found her stabbing herself and later attempting to drown herself.

Sherry Spooney, Rogers’ aunt, said it’s unclear whether the family ever will get answers.

“I don’t think it’s for us to understand why,” Spooney said. “At some point we’d like to, but if we never understand why, it's tragic and we'll just have to accept what has been given to us.”

McCoy, the boys’ grandmother and the owner of home where they lived, said she’s planning to stand by her daughter throughout her court proceedings.

“I’m ready for the fight, 'cause that’s my baby," she said. "And I love my daughter.”

She spoke about each of the boys: Jaikare, who was so excited that he just learned to read; Jeremiah, who did the heavy lifting for his grandmother; and baby Avery, whom McCoy helped deliver two months earlier.

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“Nobody knows what happened, and nobody will ever understand,” she said.

Rogers has not yet been officially charged with a crime. She has been held at Maricopa County, Ariz., jail since being released from the hospital last week.

Police have said she declined to speak with investigators about the boys’ death.

Follow Megan Cassidy on Twitter: @meganrcassidy