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Two Children Gassed to Death by Mom in Botched Murder-Suicide, Cops Say

By  Trevor Kapp and Wil Cruz | July 6, 2012 7:07am | Updated on July 6, 2012 5:05pm

Two children were found dead in a gas-filled apartment in The Bronx on July 5, 2012. Their 29-year-old mom tried to kill herself in a failed murder-suicide attempt, police said.
Two children were found dead in a gas-filled apartment in The Bronx on July 5, 2012. Their 29-year-old mom tried to kill herself in a failed murder-suicide attempt, police said.
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DNAinfo/Trevor Kapp

THE BRONX — A 29-year-old mom poisoned her young children and left them in gas-filled death trap in her Parkchester apartment late Thursday — but failed to kill herself in a botched murder-suicide attempt, police sources said. 

Lisette Bamenga, a school teacher in Brooklyn and girlfriend of an NYPD cop, fed Trevor Noel, Jr., 5, and Lillian Noel, 4 months, juice mixed with de-icer and and triggered a gas leak in her ninth-floor apartment at 1500 Noble Ave. just before midnight, sources said.

"I saw the baby right next to the mailbox with the Fire Department," said Rany Mercado, 44, who lives on the 8th floor. "They were trying to help him. They were doing CPR."

Lisette Bamenga, 29, triggered a gas leak in her Bronx apartment that killed her two young children on July 5, 2012. She then tried to commit suicide but didn't succeed, police said.
Lisette Bamenga, 29, triggered a gas leak in her Bronx apartment that killed her two young children on July 5, 2012. She then tried to commit suicide but didn't succeed, police said.
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Paramedics later pronounced both children dead at the scene.

Bamenga, who just completed her first year at P.S. 58 in Brooklyn, was found unconscious with cuts to her wrists, officials said.

"The lady was in the hallway on the floor," Richardson added. "They were saying, 'Miss, Miss, can you hear me?"

Paramedics rushed her to Jacobi Medical Center, where she was stable, police said.

Bamenga, whose Facebook page displays dozens of photos of her doting on her son, left a suicide note in the apartment, sources said. Police believed Bamenga poisoned the children and filled apartment 9N with gas in hopes killing them before taking her own life, sources said.

The fumes quickly spread to the rest of the floor, prompting neighbors to call 911.

"I smelled it early, but thought someone was grilling," said Gwen Richardson, 71, who lives on the ninth floor.

After a few hours, Richardson was overwhelmed by the odor.

"I said, "Oh, my God!'" she added. "The smell of gas was choking me."

No one else was injured.

A soccer fan originally from Paris, Bamenga, whose favorite player was New York Red Bulls' striker Thierry Henry, had lived in the building for a couple of months, neighbors said. She taught at P.S. 58 in The Bronx in September 2006 for a year, an education spokeswoman said, and took a hiatus until teaching again last year in Brooklyn.

Trevor Noel, 5, and his infant sister, Lillian Noel, were killed in a gas-filled Bronx apartment on July 5, 2012. Their mom, Lisette Bamenga, tried to commit suicide but survived, police said.
Trevor Noel, 5, and his infant sister, Lillian Noel, were killed in a gas-filled Bronx apartment on July 5, 2012. Their mom, Lisette Bamenga, tried to commit suicide but survived, police said.
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Her boyfriend is NYPD cop Trevor Noel, 31, who is believed to be the father of both children. Neighbors said they seemed like the perfect family in the neighborhood.

"The family seemed happy," said Davis Rodriguez, 17, who also lives on the ninth-floor. "They were very nice people. They were always smiling."

Chelsia Rose Marcius, Ben Fractenberg and Alan Neuhauser contributed to this article.