Angleton, Texas – A Texas woman accused of opening fire on her own children during a late-night car ride, killing two of them, is now speaking from jail and offering a disturbing account that sharply contradicts what investigators say happened.
Oninda Romelus, a Montgomery County mother, is charged with two counts of murder and two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after authorities say she shot all four of her children inside a vehicle early one morning in Brazoria County. Two of the children, 13-year-old O’Karreo Covington and 3-year-old Amourra Chappel, died from their injuries. Two others, Kylee Romelus, 9, and Traviel Downer, 8, survived despite being shot.
What Romelus Claims Happened
In recent jailhouse interviews, Romelus insisted she is “not a monster” and claimed the violence was triggered by her oldest son. She alleged that O’Karreo Covington pulled out a firearm while she was driving and aimed it at her.
“I remember my oldest aiming the gun at me,” Romelus reportedly said. “I swear to God my son was growling at me. I told him, ‘What the f—? Stop. Stop. Stop.’”
Romelus further claimed her son had a history of psychotic behavior and said she believed an ex-partner was stalking her that day, prompting her to gather all of her children and drive around with them.
“I’m not crazy,” she allegedly told interviewers, adding that she does not remember making several statements attributed to her during police questioning.
What Investigators Say
Authorities strongly dispute Romelus’ version of events. According to court documents, investigators described Romelus as paranoid and erratic during interviews. At one point, she allegedly told deputies she could not explain why she harmed her children.
Court records state that Romelus called 911 and asked police to meet her at a gas station in Angleton, Texas. When deputies arrived shortly before 4:45 a.m., they found the children inside a white passenger car with gunshot wounds.
One child’s body was described as hanging halfway out of the front passenger door, with the upper torso and head on the ground while the legs remained inside the vehicle. The engine was running, and all doors were reportedly open.
According to the criminal complaint, when a deputy questioned Romelus about statements she made earlier, she allegedly said:
“Instead of them doing it to me, I’m gonna do it to them.”
When asked to clarify, she reportedly replied, “Kill them all.”
Surveillance Footage and Gas Station Stop
Surveillance video from the gas station allegedly shows Romelus calmly pulling in, pumping gas, and purchasing $56 worth of fuel after the shootings occurred. Police say she was seen walking around the vehicle, peering through the rear window, and then returning to the driver’s seat while speaking on her phone.
Her children were still inside the vehicle when law enforcement arrived.
Additional Evidence Found at Her Home
After Romelus’ arrest, the Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at her residence. Investigators reportedly discovered evidence suggesting possible large-scale fraud activity.
Items allegedly seized included 33 Social Security cards, 48 identification cards, 16 credit cards, two U.S. Treasury checks, stacks of blank checks, shipping labels, printers, laptops, phones, and computers. Many of the documents reportedly bore other people’s names but were mailed to Romelus’ address, according to investigators.
Authorities stated the electronics appeared to have been used in the creation of fraudulent identification materials.
Charges and What Comes Next
Romelus remains jailed on a $14 million bond. She is scheduled to appear in court for a status hearing on January 14, 2026.
A fifth child, a 17-year-old boy, was not in the vehicle at the time of the shootings and was initially unaccounted for. Authorities have not publicly released further details about his status.
As the case moves forward, prosecutors are expected to rely heavily on forensic evidence, surveillance footage, and Romelus’ own recorded statements, while the defense may attempt to raise mental health issues.
The investigation remains ongoing.
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