Jefferson City, MO – A 30-year-old Jefferson City woman has been charged after police say she threatened to kill her two young children during a TikTok livestream, telling them “I’m sick of you” and “Go to sleep before I f—ing kill you,” according to a probable cause statement.
What happened during the livestream
Police say Elena Lujan, 30, directed multiple violent threats at the children — ages 3 and 7 — while broadcasting early Saturday. During the recording, officers allege she told one child, “I’ll kill her and then you’ll be the reason why she’s dead,” and added that it “won’t even be a beating.”
“Go to sleep before I f—ing kill you.”
— Excerpt from the alleged TikTok livestream.
Police response and scene details
Officers were dispatched shortly after the livestream was reported and arrived at Lujan’s apartment around 2 a.m., the probable cause statement says. Responding officers found an intoxicated Lujan passed out in a children’s room, with an open bottle of tequila and broken glass nearby. A 3-year-old was found on a living-room couch and the 7-year-old asleep in the defendant’s bedroom. It reportedly took officers several minutes to wake Lujan because of her level of intoxication.
While detained in the rear of a patrol vehicle, Lujan allegedly spat through an open window at an officer and refused to provide a breath sample. Investigators say she made numerous threats to kill the children and that she is the only adult living in the home.
Charges and custody
Lujan was arrested and booked on child abuse charges. She is being held at the Cole County Jail without bond, and an arraignment was scheduled for Wednesday. Authorities have not released further details about potential additional charges or whether child protective services have opened a separate welfare investigation.
Legal and safety context
Threats to kill a minor can lead to serious criminal exposure, and investigators typically consider intoxication, the presence of minors, and statements made on recorded media as part of charging and prosecution decisions. Local police asked anyone with information about the livestream or the welfare of the children to come forward to assist with the investigation.
Community impact and next steps
Neighbourhood safety work and child welfare advocates say episodes like this raise concerns about how social platforms are used during crises at home, and whether livestreams should trigger faster welfare checks. Police and child-welfare officials will coordinate to ensure the children’s immediate safety while the criminal case proceeds. Court records will show whether prosecutors move to add charges or whether the state seeks protective custody or services for the children.
If you have tips related to this incident or additional video evidence, contact the Jefferson City Police Department’s non-emergency line or Cole County authorities so investigators can review it.
Share your thoughts and any local resources that can help families in crisis in the comments below.
