NASHUA — Two siblings have been removed from the care of their mother after she allegedly choked her daughter and then retrieved an extension cord while threatening to kill her.

A neighbor intervened before more damage could be done, but the woman, Marta Rivera, 31, of 106 Bowers St., faces numerous charges for the Sunday night incident.

Rivera's 11-year-old daughter was fighting with her brother, 8, when the mother snapped and began hitting and slapping the girl, according to court documents.

Rivera allegedly dragged the girl into her bedroom where she placed both of her hands around the girl's neck and choked her, impeding the child's breathing, says an affidavit filed at Nashua District Court.

The daughter told authorities that her mother “looked like a beast” while she was choking her, according to the affidavit, adding Rivera repeatedly told the child she was going to kill her.

Eventually, the girl was able to escape and run to a neighbor for help. When the neighbor returned, she told police that Rivera was holding an extension cord and threatened to kill both of the children and herself.

The eight-year-old boy told police “he is afraid of his mother and was reluctant to speak about the incident,” according to court documents.

Rivera told the neighbor that she lost control and that “the devil came into me,” explaining she wants to kill the kids because they don't deserve to live like this, according to court documents.

She also told police that she wanted to kill her family because her life has been difficult and she wants to be at peace, says the affidavit.

Court records indicate that Rivera has been stressed recently, and was notified on Sunday that she would be losing her job. In addition, her father also recently passed away, says the affidavit.

Police arrested Rivera and charged her with second-degree assault, a felony, two counts of simple assault and one count of criminal threatening.

During her arraignment on Monday, Rivera pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor charges. She will be back in Nashua District Court on May 11 for a probable cause hearing on the felony charge.

The charges allege that she slapped her daughter with a sandal, grabbed her and dragged her by the hair, choked her and threatened to kill her with an extension cord.

When questioned by police, the girl said she never lost consciousness during the attack, and told authorities she was very sorry and didn't want to get her mother into trouble. Police said yesterday that the Division of Children, Youth and Families has been notified, and that the siblings are being placed in the care of relatives. The daughter was checked by medical personnel and is OK, according to police.

Rivera is being held at the Hillsborough County Jail. She could face up to seven years in prison if convicted of the felony second-degree assault charge.