Mother Accused of Attempted Murder
Keizer Mother Faces Attempted Murder Charges After Carbon Monoxide Incident with Children
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A Keizer, Oregon, mother called 911 herself after allegedly trying to kill her three young sons with carbon monoxide on the evening of June 6, 2026. Chardonnay Marie Benavidez, 32, now faces three counts of first-degree attempted murder and is being held without bail, according to KGW.
Officers arrived at the family's Holly Court NE home around 8:20 p.m. to find Benavidez and her three boys — a 4-year-old and twin 2-year-olds — in the living room. Firefighters had to vent the attached garage, which was filled with dangerous levels of carbon monoxide, KATU reported.
Mother Called 911 After the Carbon Monoxide Attempt
Benavidez told dispatchers that her children were falling in and out of consciousness, according to Right Now Oregon. She said she had tried to kill them and herself. It was her own 911 call that brought police and fire crews to the scene.
Investigators found a makeshift device in the garage: a hose running from a car's exhaust pipe into the car's interior, Hoodline reported. Keizer Police Lieutenant Trevor Wenning described the danger to first responders. "Nothing worse than responding to a call for service then having to call somebody to respond to you as you go down," he said, per KGW.
All Three Boys Survived, Released to Their Father
All four people — Benavidez and her three sons — were taken to Salem Hospital for treatment. By Sunday, June 7, the boys were medically cleared. They were released to their father, Antonio Benavidez, who was not home during the incident, according to Right Now Oregon.
Benavidez was placed on a psychiatric hold for evaluation before she could be booked. On Monday, June 8, after being cleared by psychiatric staff, she was booked into the Marion County Correctional Facility. A judge denied her bail, KGW reported.
Charges Carry a Mandatory Minimum of 7.5 Years Each
Benavidez faces three counts of first-degree attempted murder. Under Oregon's Measure 11, each count carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 90 months — that's 7.5 years — with no parole and no early release for good behavior, according to WLOX.
If convicted on all three counts and sentences run back-to-back, Benavidez could face more than 22 years in prison. Her next court date was scheduled for June 17, 2026, in Marion County, per KGW.
Psychiatric Hold Hints at a Mental Health Crisis Behind the Attack
Authorities have called the incident an "apparent murder-suicide attempt." The fact that Benavidez made the 911 call herself — and was put on a psychiatric hold before booking — suggests a severe mental breakdown, not a calculated crime, Right Now Oregon reported.
Oregon law does allow a defense based on "extreme emotional disturbance," which could reduce a murder charge to manslaughter. But applying it to an attempted murder case is legally complex and would require expert psychiatric testimony. Prosecutors appear focused on the premeditated nature of the makeshift apparatus, according to WAFB.
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