Mother found insane in baby’s killing should continue treatment, experts testify

The woman who was found not guilty by reason of insanity of drowning her 1-year-old daughter in a bathtub does not have to be committed to a mental-health institution but should continue receiving psychiatric treatment, several psychologists testified Wednesday morning.

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The testimony came as Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Miguel de la O was weighing the conditions of 43-year-old Precious Bland’s release. In Florida, a person found not guilty by reason of insanity may be placed on conditional release, which requires a treatment plan and periodic monitoring.

Last month, Judge de la O found that Bland did not understand the nature of her actions due to COVID-19 related psychosis. Bland waived her right to a jury trial, instead opting to have the judge determine whether she should be convicted of aggravated manslaughter and attempted murder.

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“There is zero credible explanation other than her psychotic state,” de la O said as he ruled.

The three psychologists agreed that Bland doesn’t need hospitalization but recommended that she continue undergoing therapy and mental-health treatment. Bland, one of the psychologists said, has been receiving therapy for depression.

Bland’s husband, Evan Bland, testified via Zoom that Bland will not be living with him and their children. He said he hasn’t seen behavior that has caused him concern.

Standing before the judge, Bland’s daughter Ahlona Willis said she does not have any concerns about Bland and said she should continue “getting the help she needs.”

“She’s my mom again,” Willis said.

Judge de la O said he will issue his ruling in a written order on Bland’s release plan by the end of the day. The judge’s verdict gained the attention of Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, who said his office “will be drafting articles of impeachment.” But that bid, experts say, will likely fail.

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The killing occurred on Aug. 23, 2021, at the home where Bland, her husband and their six children lived on the 3000 block of Northwest 99th Street. There, deputies discovered that Bland had drowned her daughter Emii in a bathtub, according to an arrest report.

Emii was found face down inside the bathtub, which was filled with bloody water, investigators say.

Bland’s husband tried to stop her, and a struggle ensued. Precious Bland asked their teenage daughter to get a knife, and the daughter told deputies that she “didn’t know why [Bland] wanted a knife, but she complied.” With that knife, Bland stabbed her husband in the head and neck — and, afterward, sliced her teenage daughter in the forearm as the teen tried to get Emii from Bland, the report says.

When deputies arrived, Evan Bland told them his wife “was upset, stating that Jesus Christ is coming and COVID is going to kill us all,” according to the report. Evan Bland said his wife insisted that everyone in the home needed to be baptized in the bathtub.

Precious Bland’s attorney, Larry Handfield, told reporters Wednesday the killing was an isolated situation linked to a COVID-19 infection — and Bland is now focused on rebuilding her life

“Once you know the facts, it was clear that conduct was not the person, the life she lived for 43 years,” Handfield previously said. The killing, the attorney said, stood in stark contrast to the prior behavior of his client, who was a decorated Navy officer who served in Iraq and was part of a security detail for then-President George W. Bush.

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This report will be updated with the judge’s ruling.