Judge Orders Psych Exams for Montgomery Mom Accused of Trying to Kill Daughters

A pastor’s wife accused of trying kill her three daughters by poisoning and stabbing because she allegedly wanted them to “meet Jesus” will undergo psychiatric evaluations by two clinical psychologists.

Pamela Christensen, 48, of Montgomery is charged with six counts of attempted murder after police said she attempted to poison her daughters, ages 12, 16 and 19, and stabbed the two younger girls in the chest.

• Pastor’s Wife Tried to Poison and Stab Daughters So They Could ‘Meet Jesus Christ’: Police

A Kendall County judge this week ordered the psychiatric two evaluations on behalf of both prosecutors and the defense, the Beacon-News reported.

In a motion asking for an evaluation to be ordered, defense lawyer Jack Donahue said Christensen is “detached from reality” and stated, “The defense has a bona fide doubt about the defendant’s mental fitness,” the Beacon reported.

Montgomery police responded to Christensen’s home in the 2300 block of Patron Lane after two hang-up calls from one of the three girls on the morning of Sept. 25, according to court records.

Christensen, who recently separated from her pastor husband, answered the door clad in a white shirt covered in blood and told police she wanted her children to “meet Jesus Christ,” according to court records reviewed by the Chicago Sun-Times.

In court documents, prosecutors allege that Christensen had mixed poison with dishwashing liquid and attempted to get the girls to drink it. The daughters, who were also dressed in white, did not drink the liquid, according to court papers.

The two younger girls suffered minor stab wounds to their chests and were treated at Rush-Copley Medical Center and released, police said.

Christensen was admitted to Presence Mercy Medical Center following the Sept. 25 incident and arrested upon her Oct. 8 release. A judge this week ordered all psychiatric records from her stay to be turned over to the prosecution and defense teams, the Beacon reported.

The month before the alleged attempted murders, Christensen obtained an order of protection against her husband, and divorce papers filed by the wife suggest the husband had become abusive. Christensen moved out of their Montgomery family home and was living with her father in Naperville.

She is being held on $1 million bond. In addition to the attempted murder charges, she is charged with three counts of aggravated battery and three counts of unlawful restraint.