PHOENIX—The family of a Phoenix woman accused of fatally stabbing her three young sons three months ago say she does not deserve the death penalty.
Octavia Rogers was indicted June 14 by a county grand jury in the deaths of 8-year-old Jaikare Rahaman, 5-year-old Jeremiah Adams and 2-month-old Avery Robinson. She has pleaded not guilty. She has a tentative trial date of Feb. 16.
On Thursday, Rogers’ mother Tanella McCoy said her daughter was a devoted mother who showed no signs of trouble before her sons’ deaths. McCoy said both she and God have forgiven her daughter.
“It broke my heart because that’s my baby, regardless of what she’s accused of. That’s still my baby and I love her and she let me know that she loves me,” McCoy said. “She brought me so much joy by bringing those grandkids to me and I don’t fault her for what happened but I still gotta be there for her because that’s my daughter.”
Rogers’ brother Marquis Perkins said his sister loved her children and that “you almost don’t want to see her like this.”
He said anyone who knew Rogers knew she loved her children and that anyone who doesn’t know her should look at her Facebook page where she often posted about her sons and how much she loved them.
Octavia Rogers in court today. Family hoping prosecutors won’t seek death penalty. Rogers accused of killing 3 sons pic.twitter.com/Xassjn5dz3
— Justin Pazera (@justinpazera) August 1, 2016
Family attorney Benjamin Taylor says Rogers’ loved ones hope she does not receive the death penalty.
“As far as the family is concerned, they love her, support her and they want the best possible outcome for Ms. Rogers,” he said.
Taylor, who is not representing Rogers, said the best outcome is not the death penalty. He said the family is still grieving the loss of Rogers’ sons. He said he hopes the prosecution doesn’t even consider the death penalty.
