COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — A Colorado mother suspected of killing her two children appeared in court in London on Monday in the first step in a lengthy process to have her extradited to the United States, NBC News reported.
Authorities arrested Kimberlee Singler in London on Dec. 30. Singler took off overseas after her 9-year-old daughter and 7-year-old son were found dead in a home Dec. 19 in Colorado Springs. She faces two counts of first-degree murder, one count of attempted murder, three counts of child abuse and one count of assault.
> Video above: Extradition process begins for Colorado Springs woman accused of killing her 2 kids'
The judge in Westminster Magistrates' Court set another court hearing for Feb. 26. At that point, authorities in the United Kingdom expect they'll have received the formal extradition paperwork from the United States to bring Singler back to Colorado.
There are multiple opportunities for appeal even after, if the judge orders that Singler be extradited. The decision would then go to the British government to make a final decision on whether to extradite her to the United States, NBC News reported.
For now, Singler will remain in custody. She didn't request bail on Monday.
Singler disappeared as Colorado Springs police prepared to arrest her in the deaths of her 9-year-old daughter and 7-year-old son, who were found slain Dec. 19 during what was reported as a burglary. Singler had minor injuries, and a wounded 11-year-old daughter was hospitalized for several days before being released.
Singler was initially treated as a crime victim and had cooperated with police. But officers could not locate her when they went to arrest her Dec. 26.
Singler had been in a long-running legal dispute over the children with her ex-husband, according to court records.
This article includes previous reporting by Janet Oravetz and Kelly Reinke.
SUGGESTED VIDEOS: Investigations & Crime