The woman who was killed after she attempted to ram her car into some security protected areas in the White House and Capitol Hill was confirmed to have suffered from some mental health issues, according to a number of federal law enforcement officials. She was said to have post partum depression after her child was born and also had a bothersome fixation on the US President, Barack Obama.

Miriam Carey seemed to believe that the president was controlling her life. This explains why she suddenly appeared in the restricted areas, and led authorities to a car chase all over the capital, which of course, ended in a shootout.

The chairman of the house committee of homeland security said that the woman believed that Obama had her home under surveillance. This belief may have what prompted Carey to head to Washington and attempt to enter the White House.

The woman's sister has been quoted as saying  "We will never know what Miriam was thinking in those last hours before she died. We can only speculate."

The sister also followed up to say that Carey had experienced post partum depression along with psychosis. Carey reportedly received counseling, treatment and medication. Carey's sister also said that her sister did not appear to be unstable.

The police when asked if there was any other way to resolve the situation, have said that the woman's behavior did not leave them with much choice. Carey was driving at high speeds along Pennsylvania avenue, which also endangered pedestrians and drivers in the area. The stakes were also raised when Carey was both seen at Capitol Hill and by the White House.

Members of the victim's family recently arrived in Washington. They came to identify the body and have expressed plans to issue a written statement in Brooklyn, New York.