Mississippi River Bridge Case: 15 Years, Then Advocacy
Case summary
On July 4, 2003, Gaines lifted her 14-month-old twin sons from their stroller and threw them from a bridge over the Mississippi River in St. Paul, then jumped after them in a suicide attempt. Bystanders rescued Supreme; his brother Sincere died. She was convicted of second-degree murder and second-degree attempted murder and served a 15-year sentence, part of it in a mental health treatment facility, waiving her right to contest civil commitment as mentally ill and dangerous. Since completing her sentence she has worked with the National Alliance on Mental Illness in Minnesota, speaking about maternal mental illness and psychiatric care in Black communities.
Mental-health context
Gaines had been hearing voices and experiencing delusions since the birth of her twins and had been diagnosed with postpartum depression before the incident. She was later diagnosed with postpartum psychosis, bipolar and schizoaffective disorder. She believed she was saving her sons from a world that had become hostile to Muslims after 9/11.
Status / outcome
Convicted; 15-year sentence completed; now a maternal mental health advocate with NAMI Minnesota
Sources
- https://www.minnpost.com/mental-health-addiction/2019/09/her-sentence-complete-naomi-gaines-young-wants-to-talk-about-mental-illness/
- https://www.kare11.com/article/news/minnesota-mother-convicted-of-murder-turns-pain-into-awareness/89-615069573
- https://www.upi.com/Top_News/2003/07/06/Mother-flings-twins-into-the-Mississippi/82601057536123/
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