A mother from Somerset County has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder related to the deaths of her two children. 

A niece and her aunt who say they were babysitters for 7-year-old Samantha Ross and her 11-month-old brother, Paul, placed pictures of the children, balloons and flowers outside the family’s home in Skillman.  

"She took care of him all this time. It was very difficult. My aunt loved Paul like he was her own son," says babysitter Gabriella Armijos.

The county prosecutor says that Hillsborough police were called for reports of a disabled vehicle left in the middle of Mountain View Road on Tuesday morning. The responding officers found the driver, identified as Yuhwei Chou, of Montgomery Township . Two children were bound and restrained inside of the car – one in a booster seat and another in a baby seat.

The children were pronounced dead at the scene. Both are Chou’s biological children, according to officials. Armijos says the parents were apparently going through a divorce.  

The prosecutor alleges that Chou caused the deaths of her children, but the circumstances leading to the deaths are currently under investigation.

An autopsy will be performed to determine the cause and manner of the deaths.

Chou was taken to the hospital for a medical evaluation. She will be held at the Somerset County Jail pending a bail hearing.

Anyone who may have information about the crime is asked to call the Somerset County Crime Stoppers Tip Line at 1-888-577-TIPS (8477).