Babysitter Accused of Stabbing Nieces Remains Jailed

A woman accused of repeatedly stabbing two young nieces  in their home across the street from Martha Stewart's estate trembled Thursday as she appeared before a judge but did not enter a plea.

The assault case against Lisa Turkki, 39, of East Syracuse, was postponed until Sept. 16. She remains jailed without bail.

The girls, Maeve Kelly, 7, and Annabel Kelly, 9, of Katonah, were repeatedly slashed with kitchen knives Saturday night while Turkki was baby-sitting them as their parents, Joseph and Eva Kelly, attended a concert. The girls are recovering in the hospital.

Turkki, her hands cuffed and her feet shackled, did not speak in court, but she trembled throughout her appearance. There was no discussion of motive or evidence.

Town Justice Erik Jacobsen revealed that four orders of protection had been issued, apparently for the girls and their parents. He said Turkki was taking prescription medicine, but he did not elaborate.

There were apparently no family members at the session in Bedford Town Court.

Turkki, who has bachelor's and master's degrees from Syracuse University, had been a volunteer with ARISE, a Syracuse-based group that aids the disabled, from 2001 to 2004.

Defense attorney Jeanne Mettler said afterward that the case was "very serious and very sensitive." He would not comment further.

Prosecutor Heidi Mason also would not comment.

Katonah, a hamlet within Bedford, is about 40 miles north of midtown Manhattan.