'Killer' New Jersey mother, 27, appears emotionless in court after being charged with murdering daughters aged 1 and 3 in bathtub

A New Jersey mom accused of drowning her two daughters appeared emotionless as she faced murder charges in court this week.

Naomi Elkins, 27, allegedly told police she stabbed her one-year-old child before drowning her and her three-year-old sister in the Orthodox Jewish community of Lakewood.

Elkins was seen in court on Monday and waived her right to a bail hearing, agreeing to stay in custody as she awaits trial on two counts of murder.

Police say Elkins said she felt she 'needed to kill the children for religious purposes' after she returned home from working at a day care last month.

Elkins's attorney Mitchell Ansell has said that Elkins 'has a well-documented history of severe mental illness, which has absolutely played a major role in these devastating events.'

Naomi Elkins, 27, told police she stabbed her one-year-old child before drowning her and her three-year-old sister in the Orthodox Jewish community of Lakewood

A pretrial hearing was scheduled for October 7.

Elkins admitted 'that she knew that it was illegal to kill her children and that what she did was wrong,' arrest documents said. 

She allegedly brought one of the children into a bathroom at her home, and held her underwater for about two to three minutes.

At that point, the arrest documents say, the other child ran into a second bathroom, screaming.

Elkins is then accused of following that daughter into the bathroom, and  running a bath before holding the child underwater.

The mother allegedly claimed she felt she 'needed to kill the children for religious purposes' after she returned home from working at a day care last month

Elkins is said to have told the officers she realized she had done something wrong, and called Hatzolah Medical Services 

'She said that she counted to 50 multiple times to ensure she held them underwater for enough time,' an affidavit says.

Elkins allegedly told cops she stabbed and 'slightly punctured' one of the daughters with a knife before running the bath - with cops later finding a serrated knife with a red handle in the hallway bathroom sink.

She is then accused of following that daughter into the bathroom, and started running a bath - before holding the child underwater.

'She said that she counted to 50 multiple times to ensure she held them underwater for enough time,' an affidavit says.

Elkins is said to have told the officers she realized she had done something wrong, and called Hatzolah Medical Services - a Jewish volunteer ambulance program - telling dispatchers there she had hurt her children.

Elkins called Hatzolah Medical Services - a Jewish volunteer ambulance program - in the aftermath telling them she had hurt her children

A children's tricycle and a swing set was also seen outside of the home where the children had been murdered

First responders who rushed to the scene found the one year old with a 'deep laceration in the middle of her stomach and superficial wound on the left side of her back,' arrest records show.

EMTs desperately tried to give the children lifesaving aid, but they were both eventually pronounced dead on the scene.

Elkins' family has said she has a history of mental health issues. 

'The Elkins family is deeply saddened by the tragic events that have occurred involving Naomi Elkins and her two young children,' they said in a statement provided by her defense team on Thursday.

'The sad truth is Naomi Elkins has a well-documented history of severe mental illness, which has absolutely played a major role in these devastating events.

'While we acknowledge the seriousness of the charges that she is facing and respect some [sic], we also believe it's important to recognize the incredible complexities presented by mental health challenges.

'We are committed to pursuing the most just and fair outcome through the legal system, taking into account all of the circumstances involved,' they concluded.