Mom charged with killing kids pleads not guilty

TAMPA, Fla. – Julie Schenecker has made a brief appearance in a Florida court to plead not guilty to the Jan. 28 shooting deaths of her 13-year-old son and 16-year-old daughter.

Heavy security was in the Tampa courtroom Wednesday morning as the 50-year-old woman, dressed in a red jail outfit, sat with her hands shackled in front of her.

The judge appointed the public defender's office to represent her for now.

Assistant Public Defender Robert Frasier says he intends to file a motion to freeze the family's assets until they can decide who will pay for her defense.

The Hillsborough County grand jury formally charged her with two counts of premeditated first-degree murder on Feb. 10. The charges could carry the death penalty if she is convicted.