Gloria Asamoah: Killer mom 'not free' to leave psych ward after allegedly murdering her 5-yr-old twins

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BRONX, NEW YORK: A mother of the 5-year-old twins was charged with their murders after they were found vomiting and foaming at the mouth in their Bronx apartment. 

Gloria Asamoah, 42, allegedly smothered her toddlers Gianna and George Kantanka to death in December 2023. Four months later, she is still being held in the psychiatric ward, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said. Asamoah was indicted on multiple felony charges, including two counts of murder, the New York Post reports. An arrest warrant has also been issued for Asamoah. 

Gloria Asamoah in psych ward since alleged murders of her toddlers

Asamoah has reportedly been in a mental health facility ever since her children were found dead. Kenny said she was going to be arrested as soon as the doctors released her. “She’s back in the psych ward. She’s not free to leave at any given time. She’s there until doctors just clear her, and at that point, she will be taken into custody by the NYPD,” he said.

Kenny went on to say, “She’s already been indicted for multiple counts, felony charges including murder, times two for both children.”

Investigators initially believed the children's deaths to be a medical accident and had no reason to suspect foul play. “There was food in the fridge, plenty of clothing for the kids. School interviews resulted in the teacher stating that the mom was very involved with the kids and taking an active role in their lives,” Kenny said. 

“Neighbor interviews described her as a loving mother,” he added. “We interviewed the dad, no signs of trouble. This is one of our cases why we always say that information is preliminary and subject to change," said Kenny. 

However, the autopsy revealed that both children’s cause of death was asphyxia. 

The tragic deaths of little George and Gianna Kantanka

George and Gianna Kantanka were discovered dead on the floor of the living room inside the family's apartment on East 175th Street near Weeks Avenue in Mount Hope. Police initially reported that the twins had died due to a "medical tragedy", reports People. 

One day they were found dead, George and Gianna had been sick and had not gone to school. The boy had been sick with cold symptoms for up to two weeks and had been sent home from school the week before. His sister had been acting strangely, picking at her mouth and spitting at school, and throwing up because she had an ear infection. 

Asamoah found her children vomiting in their bed but waiting for hours before calling for help. Asamoah reportedly carried out CPR till medics arrived at the scene. However, the toddlers were tragically declared dead after they started frothing from their noses and mouths. 

According to law enforcement, the mother of the twins had to be admitted to the hospital for observation because she was so distraught over her children's deaths. “She’s from Ghana. She came to this country when she was 23 years old. She lived in several states prior to moving to the Bronx with her husband of 10 years,” Kenny said.

The children's father, who was working in Port Chester at the time, hurried home after learning about the tragedy. Kenny says there won't be any charges against him. “I’m not good,” the distraught dad said a day after the deaths. “I lost my two kids. Not good."

When the city medical examiner's office declared on March 13 that George and Gianna's strangulation deaths were officially murders, the situation worsened. Kenny asserted that the siblings had an autism diagnosis and were "special needs" children.