Bronx, New York – A mother accused of smothering her 5-year-old twins faced a judge in Bronx Supreme Court after being indicted on murder charges. Gloria Asamoah, 42, appeared in court wearing an orange jail jumpsuit for her arraignment before Justice Brenda Rivera. She was remanded without bail following the hearing.
Asamoah was indicted on one count of first-degree murder, two counts of second-degree murder, and two counts each of first- and second-degree manslaughter in connection to the deaths of her son and daughter, George and Gianna Kantanka, on December 18, 2023. The tragedy, described as senseless by Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark, left the young siblings lifeless in their apartment.
Initially believed to have died from a medical emergency, the autopsy later revealed that the twins, who had special needs and were kept home from school on the day they died, had been smothered. Asamoah’s arraignment came four months after the tragic incident.
Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny mentioned that Asamoah was held in a psychiatric ward and would be taken into custody once cleared by doctors at the ward. The twins’ father, who was at work in Port Chester when their bodies were found, was not expected to face charges.
George had been sick with a cold for two weeks before his death and had been sent home from school the week before, authorities stated. Gianna, who had an ear infection, was reportedly behaving disruptively at school. Asamoah, originally from Ghana, was deeply affected by her children’s deaths and had to be hospitalized, according to law enforcement sources.