Mother killed daughter with hammer before attempting to overdose on antidepressants

Reports out of Russia indicate that a 35-year-old mother killed her 3-year-old daughter by striking her repeatedly on the head with a hammer on Friday, October 16 and then attempted suicide by overdosing on prescribed antidepressants.

Shortly after the brutal attack on Lisa Petunia and before the overdose became fatal, the father, Vladimir arrived at the home for lunch.  Upon discovering his daughter, he called paramedics.

Natalia Petunina was rushed to the hospital.  At this time her condition and prognosis are unknown.

Natalia's mother, Valentina told the Mirror that her daughter "experienced constant fears and took prescribed antidepressants.  When she would see an ambulance or police car in the street she panics thinking that they were after her."

Police spokesman Valeriy Gorelykh stated that before the attack on Lisa Natalia seems to have taken "a much larger dose" of antidepressants than she was prescribed which "could provoke the aggression towards the child.''

"After, apparently, realizing what she had done, the mother tried to take her own life," Gorelykh explained.  ''She did not accomplish her plan because her husband came home from work to have lunch and called emergency services.''

Police are continuing to investigate the homicide and have stated that Natalia faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted for the murder of her daughter.