A man accused of murdering his three children left a note for his estranged wife saying: “If I can’t have them, neither can you”, prosecutors have said.

Jason Karels, 35, of Round Lake Beach in the US state of Illinois, is accused of drowning five-year-old Bryant Karels, three-year-old Cassidy Karels and two-year-old Gideon Karels.

The note was found when police officers were sent to Karels’ home, and it was mentioned in his bond hearing.

According to a report by NBC, the children had been spending the weekend with their father when he allegedly drowned them in the bathtub before leaving their bodies on a bed.

They were found by their mother, Debra Karels, when she came to collect them.

In comments reported by the broadcaster, she said her children were “three beautiful little souls that didn’t deserve this”.

“I wish I was there for them that day.

Richard Glossip: Inmate on death row for 25 years ‘totally innocent’, politician says – as report into case released

Alaska: Children served floor sealant instead of milk at summer school programme

Jamal Khashoggi Way: Washington DC trolls Saudi Arabia as street outside embassy renamed

“I wish I were there to grab them before all of this happened.

“The most important thing to me is the kids and he took that away from me.

“He knew that and knew that nothing mattered to me but those children.”

Mrs Karels told CBS that she and her husband were going through a divorce at the time.

Karels was arrested on Monday after crashing his car while being pursued by police, according to Round Lake Beach Police Chief Gilbert Rivera.

He told officers that he was responsible for the deaths of his children and that he had tried to kill himself before fleeing from his home.

His blood was later found in the house.

Karels was ordered to be held on a $10m bond but the state attorney’s office will bring the case back to court on 13 July in a bid to have him held without the possibility of a cash bond.

Related posts:

‘Incredibly poignant moment’: Painting by Churchill and owned by Angelina Jolie is sold at auction France approves Oxford COVID jab for over-65s in vaccine U-turn Austria and Denmark to partner with Israel on COVID vaccines and stop relying on ‘too slow’ EU Little power, petrol or even paracetamol – it’s a wonder there isn’t open conflict in Lebanon La Palma volcano spews searing hot boulders the size of three-storey buildings Arrest warrant for grandfather accused of kidnapping sole survivor of cable car crash Eleven taking part in ritual drown in big waves on Indonesian beach Victims’ families urge start of new inquest into Ireland’s worst fire disaster ‘Very imminent’: Bombs could drop on Ukraine minutes after Putin gives order, armed forces minister says Biden tells China’s Xi of ‘consequences’ if Beijing gives Russia material support for Ukraine war Syria’s President Assad pictured meeting UAE rulers in first visit since brutal civil war began Four US soldiers killed in plane crash during NATO exercise in Norway