Father pleads 'not guilty' in killing of his 3 children

THE FATHER accused of allegedly killing his three children last week entered a not guilty plea to first degree murder charges during his arraignment hearing in a Yolo County Superior Court today (Sept. 18).

Baby Lucas, Julia and Kelvin Hodges

ROBERT HODGES, 32, was charged with three counts of premeditated murder for the deaths of Kelvin Hodges, 11, Julia Hodges, 9, and Lucas Hodges, 7 months. He also faces one count of attempted murder for the alleged assault on his wife, Mai Sheng Hodges.

In an earlier press conference earlier, Yolo County District Attorney Jeff Reisig said the two older siblings had been killed with a belt. Reisig did not say how the infant was killed, other than there was no apparent weapon involved. He also said that Robert Chokes allegedly  

choked his wife, Mai Sheng Hodges.

Neighbors told reporters that Robert Hodges' wife escaped his choking attempt and ran out of the apartment, that was when he turned his attention to his children.

Mai Sheng Hodges said in a Facebook post that her husband was a loving father. Investigators did not reveal the possible motive.

Robert Hodges was driving in the area when he was arrested Sept. 12 by a California Highway Patrolman.

Hodges remains in Yolo County Jail without bail and will return to court Oct. 2 to set a date for a preliminary hearing.

A Go Fund Me campaign for Mai Sheng Hodges had raised nearly $30,000 by Monday afternoon and a separate account has been opened for funeral expenses at Bank of America.

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