The nanny accused of killing two of her charges reportedly told police that she was upset over pay from her Upper West Side employers. According to the Wall Street Journal, Yoselyn Ortega, 50, told police she wasn't upset at the children but rather their parents.
Ortega was formally charged with first- and second-degree murder in the deaths of Lucia Krim, 6, and Leo Krim, 2. Police say that the children's mother, Marina Krim, who had been with her third child (six-year-old Nessie), found her daughter's and son's bodies in a bathroom tub—and then Ortega started to stab herself with a kitchen knife. Lucia and Leo died at the hospital while Ortega survived her injuries, though had remained intubated until Saturday.
The children's maternal grandmother, Karen Krim, had told the Daily News that her daughter-in-law and son Kevin "were always doing things that were just fabulous for [Ortega]... I’m just astounded, and I have no idea why something like this would happen. They just bent over backwards being nice to this woman... They treated her like family. My daughter-in-law, if she thought there was anything wrong, she would have never left the two with her."
Clockwise from top: Lucia "Lulu" Krim, Leo Krim and Nessie Krim (Marina Krim's Livejournal)
However, the NY Times reports, "She told the detectives that 'Marina knows what happened,' the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the case, said Sunday..." The source, who said that Ortega seemed "spacey," added "that while the Krim family did not have problems with Ms. Ortega and seemed to live an idyllic life, Ms. Ortega, based on what she told the investigators, had a different view," explaining, "She had resentment towards the parents... they were always telling her what to do."
The WSJ adds, "She said that Ms. Krim and her husband, CNBC executive Kevin Krim, didn't pay her enough for the amount of hours she was working, the official said."
Ortega allegedly did not admit to killing the children, just "attacking" them—and, per reports, admitted that Lucia fought back (the little girl's body had defensive's wounds) while she attacked a sleeping Leo.
Last night, a candlelight vigil was held for the Krim family at the Hippo Playground in Riverside Park. Their aunt Katie Krim said to the hundreds of people gathered, "We will always miss Leo and Lulu and think of them every day."
The Krims have set up a fund to spread arts and sciences programs to children—the Lulu & Leo Fund.
