A Gaithersburg woman accused last week of attempting to drown her daughter and kill herself has been receiving mental health treatment and told police she’s “been hearing voices in her head for some time,” according to charging documents.
Karen Louisa Isaac, 62, was charged with attempted first-degree murder, assault and reckless endangerment after an incident early Thursday morning.
A Gaithersburg police officer found Isaac and her 25-year-old daughter struggling to stay afloat in the lake at Rio. The officer jumped in to keep them afloat until backup arrived.
Isaac pushed her daughter in the water and jumped in behind her, trying to kill both of them, according to charging documents.
Isaac told officers she was having financial problems and was unemployed for a while, according to charging documents. She added that she didn’t want someone else burdened with caring for her daughter, Seychelle, who has cerebral palsy and a mental disability.
Once she got in the water, Isaac decided she did not want to kill herself. She added that she had been under duress the past several weeks because her ex-husband was putting words in her head, according to charging documents.
Isaac said she has been receiving mental health treatment at a Bethesda clinic.
Both Isaacs were taken to Shady Grove Adventist Hospital and treated for their injuries. Gaithersburg police said the daughter was in stable condition.
Isaac is scheduled to appear in Rockville District Court on Aug. 30. Online records do not list attorney representation as of Monday morning. She was being held without bond in a county detention center.
CHarlie Wright can be reached at charlie.wright@moco360.media
