one Miami A woman who allegedly drowned her 15-month-old daughter in a bathtub and stabbed her husband and teenage daughter has been found not guilty by reason of insanity. Precious brand waives right to jury trial and a bench trial was held. Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Miguel de la O.
Defense attorney Larry Handfield argued at trial that Bland suffered a psychotic episode due to Coronavirus disease. Handfield told NBC6 that Bland had hallucinations of command and voices telling her to baptize family members who also contracted COVID-19.
The incident occurred on the evening of August 23, 2021, at a residence near Northwest 99th Street and 30th Avenue in West Little River.
Who is Plessis Brand? What did she do?
The arrest report said Bland, a 43-year-old Miami woman, was in pain and told her family that “Jesus Christ is coming and COVID is going to kill us all,” NBC Miami reported. She then said everyone needed to be baptized and, according to investigators, she would baptize everyone in the bathtub. After a while, she held her 15-month-old daughter underwater until the child became unresponsive.
Her husband tried to intervene and a fight ensued. Bland then grabbed a knife and stabbed him multiple times.
The husband still managed to escape with the couple’s four children. However, Bland reportedly stabbed her 16-year-old daughter in the forearm before she walked out of the house.
Police who arrived at the scene found the baby unconscious in the bathtub. She was taken to Jackson North Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.
Bland’s injured husband and daughter were treated at the hospital and released.
Judge De La O ruled Tuesday that Bland did not understand the nature or consequences of his actions when he killed the doctor.
“Judge, this is indeed strange behavior, but it is not legal insanity,” prosecutor Elizabeth Utset argued during the short trial, WFOR reported. “The voice and COVID-19 insanity are fabricated, embellished stories.”
Shortly after hearing the judge’s sentence, Brand told WFOR, “God is good. This doesn’t bring my daughter back. I’m grateful. I love my kids.”
Defense attorney Handfield told NBC6 he believes this is the first successful coronavirus-related insanity defense in the country. He claimed that a small percentage of people infected with the coronavirus develop paranoia and suicidal thoughts, describing Brand’s condition as temporary insanity.
Bland must now undergo an evaluation hearing. Handfield said Judge De La O will decide whether she needs additional mental health treatment or commitment. Bland is currently allowed to stay at home pending that decision.
