Persia Nelson, a 26-year-old from Schenectady, New York, was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for second-degree murder in the death of her 11-month-old daughter, Halo Branton. The incident occurred on March 10, 2024, when Halo died of hypothermia after being placed in a 10-foot-deep drainage pipe filled with cold water and mud on the General Electric campus.
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Case Timeline
- March 9, 2024: Halo reported missing, triggering an Amber Alert describing her as in imminent danger.
- March 10, 2024: Authorities found Halo’s body floating face-up in the pipe after a search involving local police, state police, and the FBI; Nelson was arrested.
- October 2025: Jury convicted Nelson of second-degree murder, manslaughter,…