Salem mother to plead guilty to slashing kids’ throats

A Salem woman accused of slashing the throats of her two young children and dousing them in lighter fluid in 2012 is expected to change her plea to guilty Friday.

The children, a 3-year-old girl and an 8-year-old boy, survived the attack, but their mother, Tanicia Goodwin, 27, was charged with two counts of armed assault with intent to murder, two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and one count of arson.

According to police reports, emergency personnel were called to the Salem Heights apartment complex on the night of March 18, 2012 for a report of a fire. Goodwin’s children were found inside with “deep lacerations [on their necks] from one side to the other,” said Essex County Assistant District Attorney Melissa Woodard.

A paramedic who responded to the scene said Goodwin’s son nodded his head when asked if it was his mother who hurt him.

Police claimed that shortly after allegedly lighting the fire, Goodwin arrived at police headquarters, and collapsed on the ground, covered in blood and lighter fluid, and smashed a glass display case.

Goodwin also had a “superficial wound” on her neck, said prosecutors.

“She stated [to police] ‘I’m not supposed to be here, I’m not supposed to be alive,’” Woodard told the judge.

During an interview with police, Goodwin repeatedly told officers she did what she had to do “to protect” her children and apologized, according to court documents.