Nationwide — Precious Bland, a 43-year-old African American mother from Miami, Florida, was found not guilty by reason of insanity after a deadly 2021 attack that left her toddler daughter dead and two family members injured. The court accepted a mental health defense tied to a psychotic break during the incident.
She stood trial in Miami-Dade County for killing her 15-month-old daughter and stabbing her husband and teenage daughter in August 2021. She admitted during proceedings that she carried out the acts, while her defense focused on her mental state at the time.
Her legal team argued she suffered from severe hallucinations during a crisis linked to COVID-19. According to the New York Post, her attorney said Bland believed she was receiving religious instructions and hearing voices tied to illness and survival fears.
During the episode, she allegedly told her family that “Jesus Christ is coming and COVID is going to kill us all,” and insisted they needed to be baptized. Prosecutors said she then held her baby underwater in a bathtub until the child stopped breathing.
When her husband and 16-year-old daughter tried to intervene, authorities said Bland attacked them with a knife as they attempted to escape the home. Both survived the confrontation, according to investigators.
Judge Miguel de la O ultimately ruled that Bland was not criminally responsible due to insanity on charges of aggravated manslaughter and attempted murder.
The courtroom hearing ended with Bland in tears as the decision was read. Outside the courtroom after the ruling, she said, “God is good. This doesn’t bring back my daughter. I’m thankful. I love my children.”