A West Sacramento man has been ordered to stand trial for allegedly killing his three children and trying to murder his wife. A Yolo County judge ruled Friday that Robert Hodges must face trial for the deaths last month of his 11-year-old son Kelvin, 9-year-old daughter Julie, and 7-month-old son Lucas.A police detective who interviewed Hodges, testified in court Friday saying Hodges was in financial debt and had considered killing himself and his family for a year, the Davis Enterprise reported.Hodges was charged last month with three counts of premeditated murder of his three children, with three special circumstances, and one count of attempted murder of his wife. Hodges was charged with three special circumstances of two counts for lying in wait and one count for multiple murders.The Yolo County District Attorney Office said last month Hodges used a belt in the killings of his 11-year-old son Kelvin and 9-year-old daughter Julie. The detective said Friday that Hodges talked about the hours long process of strangling each child, using the belt or his bare hands, the Enterprise reported.Hodges has pleaded not guilty to murder and attempted murder. Prosecutors haven't said whether they'll seek the death penalty.His next arraignment is scheduled for November 3. ---The Associated Press contributed to this story

A West Sacramento man has been ordered to stand trial for allegedly killing his three children and trying to murder his wife.


A Yolo County judge ruled Friday that Robert Hodges must face trial for the deaths last month of his 11-year-old son Kelvin, 9-year-old daughter Julie, and 7-month-old son Lucas.

A police detective who interviewed Hodges, testified in court Friday saying Hodges was in financial debt and had considered killing himself and his family for a year, the Davis Enterprise reported.

Courtesy photo (Left to Right) Kelvin Hodges, 11, Lucas Hodges, 7 months, and Julie Hodges, 9.

Hodges was charged last month with three counts of premeditated murder of his three children, with three special circumstances, and one count of attempted murder of his wife. Hodges was charged with three special circumstances of two counts for lying in wait and one count for multiple murders.

The Yolo County District Attorney Office said last month Hodges used a belt in the killings of his 11-year-old son Kelvin and 9-year-old daughter Julie.

The detective said Friday that Hodges talked about the hours long process of strangling each child, using the belt or his bare hands, the Enterprise reported.

Hodges has pleaded not guilty to murder and attempted murder. Prosecutors haven't said whether they'll seek the death penalty.

His next arraignment is scheduled for November 3.

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The Associated Press contributed to this story