GRUNDY CENTER - Witnesses describe an injured Michelle Kehoe asking for help. But rescuers soon made a shocking discovery.

During the first day of testimony, prosecutors say Michelle Kehoe planned a deadly assault on her children well in advance.

Kehoe is accused of killing son Seth, 2, and wounding the then Sean, 7, with a knife. The attack happened almost one year ago in rural Buchanan County.

The defense is claiming insanity, but prosecutors told jurors Michelle Kehoe got duct tape and a knife ahead of time. She even wrote a note she left for police blaming a mysterious attacker for the death of her children.

Police found the van and one child dead from a throat wound and one injured but alive here near Littleton.

Surviving son Sean Kehoe quickly told rescuers and others who hurt him.

"His mother stopped the van and taped his eyes and cut his neck and then somehow he got away from his mother, got in the van and locked the door. At that time she had his brother and had hurt him," said Attending surgeon Dr. R.L. Saveriede.

Michelle Kehoe sat through that kind of testimony showing little if any emotion. Prosecutors say Kehoe planned to blame a mysterious attacker by leaving a note and then cut her own throat.

The next day, she woke up and stumbled to a nearby rural home looking for help. One witness described Kehoe's appearance then.

"She said the person is covered with blood," Debra Hinde told jurors.

Rescuers responding to a 911 call to help an injured Michelle Kehoe soon found the van nearby.

One volunteer firefighter found Sean Kehoe and the boy immediately talked about his brother.

"He said the first aid kit laying out there was from him trying to help his brother," said volunteer firefighter Sean Even.

The defense did not make an opening statement and asked two questions of witnesses.

By using an insanity defense, they will rely instead on medical professionals to talk about Kehoe.

Court resumes Friday morning at 9:00 a.m. You can watch it LIVE on KCRG.com.