Julie Schenecker Update: Florida Military Mom Begins Trial For Killing Kids

Trial is set to begin for Julie Schenecker, a former military linguist accused of fatally shooting her two children in their Tampa, Florida home in 2011, according to The Associated Press.

Jurors in the high-profile case will have to determine if Schenecker, 53, is a calculating murderer or victim of severe mental illness who didn't know what she was doing.

The former soccer mom faces two charges of first-degree murder. Jury selection will begin on Monday, the AP said.

Though prosecutors are not seeking the death penalty, Schenecker could face life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted. However, if her lawyers succeed in their insanity plea, the judge could order her to a mental hospital until she is no longer determined a threat to society.

Investigators claim Schenecker shot her 13-year-old son, Beau, twice in the head for "talking back" to her and then shot her 16-year-old daughter, Calyx, as she studied in her bedroom.

After Schenecker sent a concerning email to her mother, authorities arrived at the home to check on her -- only to find her covered in blood and both children dead. According to the AP, the scene was so gruesome that a stress team was called to counsel officers.

Schenecker joined the Army and advanced to the rank of of sergeant as a Russian linguist. Once she was stationed in Munich, Germany, she met her future husband, Parker Schenecker -- a career military officer.

At the time of the shooting, Col. Parker Schenecker had been deployed to the Middle East a few weeks earlier. Since then, he has divorced his wife and filed a wrongful death lawsuit.

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