By ERIC ADAMS and KATHERINE COOK, Kgw.com Staff
PORTLAND, Ore. -- The 31-year-old mother of two children found in the Willamette River early Saturday morning has been charged with the aggravated murder and attempted aggravated murder of her children, Portland police announced Saturday evening at a press conference.
Amanda Jo Stott-Smith was booked into Multnomah County Jail on the charges earlier in the afternoon, police said.
Officials also announced that Smith's 7-year-old daughter, who survived for several hours in the chilly river's waters and swift currents, remained hospitalized in serious condition, but that she was expected to live.
It was the chilling sound of children's screams on the waters of the Willamette River that set in motion a massive search and rescue operation early Saturday morning.
Two young children were found in the river, one dead and one injured, after someone called authorities saying they’d heard screaming near the Sellwood Bridge, according to police.
A 4-year-old boy and 7-year-old girl were eventually recovered from the river after an hour-long search involving officers from two police departments, Portland Police and Fire bureau boats, Multnomah County River Patrol officers, a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter and private citizens who had heard the screams.
The boy, Eldon Jay Rebhan Smith, was dead.
At least two 9-1-1 calls were made reporting the screams and the search had begun just after 1 a.m., Portland Police Bureau spokesman Greg Pashley said.
The screams were still audible when searchers arrived and were apparently traveling with the river's current, from the bridge area toward downtown Portland. They could be heard for nearly an hour as searchers scoured the river's banks and a helicopter beamed light from overhead.
But ultimately it was a private citizen who discovered the two young children. He had heard them and launched his boat to assist with the search, Officer Pashley said. He found the children about a half-mile downstream of Sellwood Bridge.
The good samaritan brought the children to the docks of the Oregon Yacht Club. The 4-year-old boy was dead and the girl was taken to an area hospital for treatment.
"It must have been horrifying. The water is so cold, it was dark, and so for two little kids, I can only imagine how horrifying that must have been," he said.
Patti Carr lives in the yacht club and heard the early-morning commotion.
"It makes me sick, it just does. It makes you think about your family and want to make sure everybody is safe," she said.
Police officers, detectives and others continued to search the area through the night. Homicide detectives took over the investigation after the boy was found dead.
Officers called the boy's death "suspicious" and autopsy was scheduled for Saturday. They would not comment on the girl's condition.
A press conference on the investigation was scheduled for Saturday evening.
Anyone with information -- or who finds anything suspicious along the Willamette River -- was urged to contact police.
KGW Reporter Amanda Burden contributed to this report.
