A Miami woman accused of drowning her 15-month-old daughter in a bathtub and stabbing her husband and teenage daughter has been found not guilty by reason of insanity.
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Precious Bland waived her right to a jury trial and instead had a bench trial, where Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Miguel de la O acquitted her of multiple criminal charges, including for the death of her daughter.
During the trial, defense attorney Larry Handfield argued Bland suffered a psychotic episode triggered by COVID-19.
Handfield told NBC6 that Bland was experiencing command hallucinations, with voices telling her to baptize her family members, who were also infected with COVID-19.
The incident happened on the night of Aug. 23, 2021, at a home near Northwest 99th Street and 30th Avenue in West Little River.
According to the arrest report, Bland became increasingly distressed, telling family members that “Jesus Christ is coming and COVID is going to kill us all.”
She then insisted everyone needed to be baptized and said she was going to baptize them in the bathtub, investigators said.
A short time later, Bland held her 15-month-old daughter underwater until the child became unresponsive, according to the report.
When her husband tried to intervene, a struggle broke out. Investigators said Bland grabbed a knife and stabbed him multiple times.
The husband managed to escape with four of the couple’s children, but Bland stabbed her 16-year-old daughter in the forearm before she could get out of the home, the report said.
Responding officers found the toddler unresponsive in the bathtub. She was taken to Jackson North Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.
Bland’s husband and teenage daughter were treated at a hospital for their injuries and later released.
On Tuesday, Judge de la O ruled that Bland did not understand the nature or consequences of her actions when she killed her daughter.
Handfield told NBC6 he believes this is the first successful COVID-related insanity defense in the country. He argued that a small percentage of people who contract COVID-19 can experience paranoia and suicidal thoughts.
He described Bland’s condition as temporary insanity.
Bland will now undergo an assessment hearing, during which Judge de la O will determine whether she requires additional mental health treatment or commitment, according to Handfield.
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For now, Bland is allowed to remain at home pending that determination.