Mother of slain Wis. children 'hysterical'

CREATED Jul. 24, 2012

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MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- A River Falls Police receptionist says the mother of three slain children was hysterical when she called for help.

Aaron Schaffhausen faces three counts of first-degree intentional homicide in the deaths of his daughters. Investigators say he showed up at the home they shared with their mother, his ex-wife Jessica Schaffhausen, on July 10 while she was out and slit the girls' throats.

Ailene Splittgerber testified at Aaron Schaffhausen's preliminary hearing Tuesday in St. Croix County that she answered a call from Jessica Schaffhausen on July 10. She says the woman was in tears and told her that her ex-husband had called her and said he had killed the children.

Splittgerber says the call lasted about 40 minutes. She says Jessica Schaffhausen was crying and hysterical the entire time.