Mother of 3 children who drowned in Coney Island charged with second-degree murder

The mother of three children who died after being found unconscious and in critical condition on the beaches of Coney Island on Monday has been arrested and charged with murder.

Erin Merdy, 30, is charged with three counts of second-degree murder, three counts of depraved indifference to human life and three counts of the murder of victims younger than 11 years old, according to a statement from the New York Police Department.

Authorities said that Merdy was initially taken into custody for questioning Monday following two 911 calls that ultimately led police to the bodies of the children around 4:30 a.m. ET.