Mom who killed child during at-home ‘baptism’ will not serve any jail time – Image for illustrative purposes only (Image credits: nvmwebsites-budwg5g9avh3epea.z03.azurefd.net)
Miami – A local mother charged with drowning her 15-month-old daughter in a bathtub during an attempted at-home baptism has been found not guilty by reason of insanity. The ruling means Precious Leslie Bland will serve no jail time for the 2021 death. The decision came after a bench trial in which the judge determined she was legally insane at the time of the incident.
The Incident Unfolds
Police responded to Bland’s Miami home on August 23, 2021, after reports of multiple stabbings. Her husband met officers outside with wounds to his head and neck. He told investigators that his wife had become agitated, claiming Jesus Christ was returning and that COVID-19 would kill everyone. According to the account given to police, Bland held the couple’s young daughter underwater in the bathtub until the child stopped responding. When her husband tried to stop her, she allegedly directed one of their other children to retrieve a knife. She then used the knife to stab her husband several times. The child who fetched the knife also suffered a wound to the arm. The 15-month-old was later found face down in a tub of bloody water. The medical examiner ruled the death a homicide by drowning.
The Legal Process and Verdict
Bland, then 43, waived her right to a jury trial and entered a not guilty plea to charges that included second-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, and child abuse. She placed her case before Judge Miguel De La O. After hearing evidence and expert testimony, the judge acquitted her by reason of insanity. The defense presented medical evidence that Bland had been experiencing a COVID-related psychosis during the events. Prosecutors countered that the behavior, while unusual, did not meet the legal standard for insanity and suggested the psychosis claim was fabricated. The judge ultimately sided with the defense position. Bland had been free on a $10,000 bond and under house arrest prior to the verdict. She left the courthouse immediately after the ruling.
Background and Next Steps
Bland’s attorney noted that his client had served as a decorated Navy officer, including time in Iraq and on a security detail for former President George W. Bush. He described the incident as the result of a medical crisis triggered by COVID rather than criminal intent. Bland spoke briefly after the verdict, expressing gratitude while acknowledging the loss of her daughter. She is scheduled to return to court on June 26 for a follow-up report. The case highlights the intersection of mental health crises and criminal proceedings in Florida courts.
What matters now…