Cincinnati Mother with Documented Postpartum Psychosis Pleads Guilty
Case summary
In March 2015, Watkins' 3-month-old daughter, Janiyah, was found dead in the home of the aunt who had been caring for her; Watkins, then 20, was charged with aggravated murder. Records showed she had been diagnosed with postpartum psychosis, and she was initially found incompetent to stand trial and ordered into psychiatric treatment. After being restored to competency, she initially pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, then in February 2017 pleaded guilty to murder. She was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison. Her attorneys said she was receiving medication for her condition at the time of the plea.
Mental-health context
Court and child-welfare records documented that Watkins had been diagnosed with postpartum psychosis before the offense, and custody of the baby had been transferred to a relative because of her condition.
Status / outcome
Guilty plea to murder (2017); sentenced to 15 years to life
Sources
- https://www.cbsnews.com/news/deasia-watkins-ohio-mom-pleads-guilty-decapitating-baby-sentenced-to-15-to-life-in-prison/
- https://www.wcpo.com/news/deasia-watkins-pleads-guilty-to-murder-decapitating-her-infant-daughter
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