TWO CHILDREN STABBED TO DEATH ON 75TH STREET; NANNY IN CUSTODY (UPDATED)

A 2-year-old boy and a 6-year-old girl were stabbed to death at the La Rochelle on 75th Street and Columbus Avenue today and their nanny was arrested for the crime. Their mother found the children dead in the bathtub when she came home with her other daughter at around 5:30 p.m., the Times is reporting.

The nanny also apparently slashed her own throat, and was in critical but stable condition at New York Presbyterian Hospital. She was found in the bathroom with the boys near a kitchen knife.

Update: The Daily News identified the mother and father as Kevin and Marina Krim. Kevin Krim is an executive at CNBC. The nanny’s name is Yoselyn Ortega.

The 6-year-old, we hear, attended PS 87 on 78th Street.

The Times talked to a neighbor who lives on the same floor named Rima Starr. She said the mother was “just screaming and swaying” when she saw her. After police arrived, the mother stood in the lobby screaming and holding her surviving child, the AP reported.

Starr had recently seen the nanny.

“I rode in the elevator with the nanny just the day before yesterday,” she said. “I was making small talk. She was sort of unfriendly, didn’t want to interact. But I didn’t notice anything strange or weird.”

Ortega had apparently been hired at least a year ago, and had been vetted extensively by the family, the children’s grandmother told the Post: “Marina and Kevin Krim had been extra careful in hiring Ortega — and even spent nine days with her family in the Dominican Republic beforehand.”

“This is one of the most tragic crimes we’ve had on the Upper West Side,” said Mel Wymore, former chairman of the Community Board 7, when we saw him at the scene. “There are no words to describe the devastation. Our hearts ache for this family.”

Police had blocked off 75th Street from Columbus to Central Park West.

Here’s the original release from the NYPD:

“On Thursday, October 25, 2012, at 1726 hours, police responded to a 911 call of a woman in need of assistance inside of 57 West 75 Street, within the confines of the 20 Precinct.  Upon their arrival, responding officers  were directed to apartment 2FG where they discovered a M/1 and a F/6 inside the bathroom at the location with stab wounds to the body. EMS also responded to the scene and transported the two children to St. Lukes Hospital where they were both pronounced DOA. Additionally, a F/50 was also found inside the location with apparent self-inflicted stab wounds to her neck. She was transported to Cornell Medical Center where she is listed in critical condition. The investigation is ongoing.”

If you wish to read more details, they can be found at the Times, Daily News, DNAinfo and the Post.

Initial reports that 5 people were stabbed appear to have been incorrect. Also, reports that both children were boys were also incorrect. Photo of press conference by Mel Wymore. Top photo by Avi.