Investigator visited woman same day she drove children into bay

MIAMI -- A woman who deliberately drove into Biscayne Bay with her two children had been visited twice in the days leading up to the incident by investigators looking into anonymous calls to a child-abuse hot line, authorities said Wednesday.

Kisha Bethel, 22, and her 5-year-old daughter died Monday after the sport utility vehicle sank in 10 feet of water. Bethel's 3-month-old son survived but was in a deep coma on life support.

Records show that Broward County sheriff's deputies first investigated child abuse allegations at the home in October 2001.

Investigators returned on Saturday and again Sunday.

The Miami Herald reported Wednesday that Bethel panicked the morning she drove into the bay because she thought the child welfare agency would take her children away.