'Cult-like' woman, 36, pleads not guilty in the murder of her two daughters, ages 9 and 7, whose bodies were found floating in Florida canal in June

A 36-year-old South Florida woman who neighbors describe as 'cult-like' pleaded not guilty to two counts of premeditated murder on Tuesday, weeks after the bodies of her two young daughters were found in a canal. 

Tinessa Hogan did not appear in court; instead, attorney Erin Veit issued the plea.

Tinessa Hogan, 36, was arrested Tuesday night on two counts of first-degree murder

'I am God! I am the devil!', neighbors said they heard Hogan yelling the day before the bodies of Destiny Hogan, 9, and Daysha Hogan, 7, were found near the family's home in Lauderhill on June 22.

The 36-year-old was arrested and charged on June 22 with two counts of first-degree murder, news outlets reported.

Veit could not be reached for comment regarding grounds for the plea. 

Residents in the area, which is near the city of Fort Lauderdale, told investigators that Hogan had offered to baptize people's children in the canal a day before the girls' bodies were found, police said last month.

Destiny's body was spotted first on the afternoon of June 22. Hours later, authorities found her sister's body nearby. 

Shortly before the bodies were discovered, neighbors said they saw Hogan swimming with a Bible on one occasion and on another, carrying a sign that read 'death is the only way' while wearing a black, shiny wig.

They described her as having a 'cult-like' personality and wanting to evangelize people.

Tinessa Hogan, 36, pleaded not guilty for the murder of her daughters Destiny Hogan, 9, and Daysha Hogan, 7

The girls were found eight hours apart floating in a canal near the family home in Lauderhill on June 22

Formal charges weren't brought against Hogan until her arrest on July 14, weeks after the bodies were found, leading to the belief that police had initially detained her under Florida's Baker Act, which applies to people with mental illness.

Neighbors say she was screaming 'I am God! I am the devil!' and had been seen swimming with a Bible, offering to baptize kids in the canal a day before her daughters' bodies were found

Neighbor Lawana Johnson told CBS Miami that she saw Hogan on June 21. 'She was in the water swimming, she had a Bible and she told me to come here. 

Authorities said last month that the family lived near the canal, before adding that there are no records of child welfare workers responding to the home

'I said, 'Why?' She said she wanted to baptize me. She say God told her. I say, 'God didn’t tell you anything.' 

Video obtained by local news outlet WPLG showed Hogan being handcuffed before being taken into custody after Destiny's body was discovered and before Daysha's body was found floating in the canal later that day.

However, formal charges weren't brought against her until her arrest on July 14, weeks after the bodies were found, leading to the belief that police had initially detained her under Florida's Baker Act, which applies to people with mental illness. 

Police are investigating whether Tinessa Hogan was part of a religious organization. 'We desperately need to know what the relationship was and how this may have happened,' police said

Police also are investigating whether or not Hogan was part of a church or a religious organization. 

'If you know the family, the children, if you're familiar with the relationship, if you're familiar with any churches or organizations that they may be a part of, we desperately need to know what the relationship was and how this may have happened,' Lauderhill Police Lt. Mike Bigwood. said at a press conference on June 24. 

Authorities said last month that the family lived near the canal, before adding that there are no records of child welfare workers responding to the home.

Investigators said there were no obvious signs of trauma on Daysha's body. Destiny had pale white hands, and a white substance on her face. Autopsies were completed the day after the girls' bodies were discovered, although those results have not yet been publicly released. 

It was not immediately known whether Hogan has retained a lawyer who can speak on her behalf.