(AP) -- The attorney, family and friends of a woman who authorities accuse of killing four members of her family for insurance money say she has debilitating mental problems and suffered brain damage several years ago in a beating.

Susan Hendricks was charged earlier this week with four counts of murder in the shooting deaths of her two sons, ex-husband and stepmother nearly two weeks ago in her home and a house next door in Liberty.

Investigators said she was the beneficiary of life insurance policies on all the victims.

Public defender John Mauldin told The Greenville News that Hendricks takes medicine for her mental problems.

Her brother, James Burns Jr., said his sister suffered brain damage and memory loss in a beating several years ago.

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