Miami mom who drowned daughter during 'Covid-induced' psychosis found not guilty by reason of insanity

A Florida mother has been found not guilty by reason of insanity after being charged with drowning her 15-month-old daughter in a bathtub and stabbing her husband and teen daughter.

Defense attorney Larry Handfield argued during the trial that 43-year-old Precious Bland had suffered a psychotic episode that was triggered by Covid. Handfield told NBC 6 that Bland had been experiencing command hallucinations telling her to baptize members of her family who had also come down with Covid.

On the night of August 23, 2021, Bland became increasingly distressed, telling family members in the Miami home that "Jesus Christ is coming and Covid is going to kill us all," per an arrest report by the outlet.

Investigators said she insisted that everyone in the home needed to be baptized, and that she would be baptizing them in the home’s bathtub. Bland allegedly held her 15-month-old daughter underwater until the child became unresponsive.

In attempting to intervene, a struggle broke out between Bland and her husband, with Bland allegedly grabbing a knife and stabbing him multiple times. The husband escaped with four of the couple’s children, however, Bland was also accused of stabbing her 16-year-old daughter before she could leave the home.

The toddler was found by responding officers in the bathtub, unresponsive. She was pronounced dead at Jackson North Medical Center. The husband and teen daughter were treated for their injuries and released.

Miami-Dade Judge Miguel de la O ruled on Tuesday that Bland did not understand the nature or consequences of her actions when she allegedly killed her daughter. Bland had waived her right to a jury trial and a bench trial was held instead, with Judge de la O acquitting her of multiple criminal charges.

Handfield told the outlet that he believes this is the first successful Covid-related insanity defense in America, arguing that a small percentage of people who come down with Covid can experience paranoia and suicidal thoughts. He called Bland’s condition temporary insanity.

Bland will undergo an assessment hearing at a later date, at which Judge de la O will determine if she needs commitment or additional mental health treatment.