Family: Mother
charged with murder in death of toddlers made 'careless
mistake,' left girls in hot car
RALEIGH, N.C. — A mother charged with murder in the
death of her two daughters was denied bond on Monday.
Launice Battle appeared for the first time in a
courtroom for the deaths of 3-year-old Amora Lou
Milbourne and 2-year-old Trinity Michelle Milbourne.
Battle's father was also in the courtroom. He said,
to his understanding, the children were left in a hot
car. However, Wake County District Attorney Lorrin
Freeman said she could not share any facts of the case,
including how and where they girls died.
Battle’s
cousins called the girls' deaths a a "careless mistake."
"She was always there. She's a caring and loving
mother to her kids at the end of the day. She's not a
cold-blooded murderer. She's not a killer," said
Battle's cousin Keisha Harris.
Harris said her
family is devastated and can't understand what led up to
the deaths of the two toddlers.
"She was just a
young girl, may have been experiencing depression or
whatever the case may be," said Harris. "She just made a
bad decision. At the end of the day, she was a good
mother to those girls."
Another cousin, Lisacious
Williams, said the family was at a loss for words.
"We love Launice no matter what, and we will support
her no matter what. This was a careless mistake,"
Williams said in a message.
Battle was arrested
at Duke Raleigh Hospital on Wake Forest Road Saturday
night. Birth records show Battle also has a son, Haven
Gabriel, born in August 2016. Haven was believed to be
in the care of his father.
Battle’s Cary
neighbors knew her as a single mom, and Cary police said
they had no record of calls for child abuse or neglect
to her address.
Battle will be back in court on
Sept. 19.