Florida mother found not guilty by reason of insanity in daughter’s drowning death

Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Miguel de la O found Precious Bland not guilty by reason of insanity in the drowning death of her 15-month-old daughter, ending the case without a prison sentence. Bland, 38, waived a jury and let the judge decide the case after a two-day bench trial in Miami-Dade County.

The ruling came on June 24, the second day of a trial that began June 22. Bland had faced second-degree murder charges after confessing to drowning her daughter in 2021.

The child died on Aug. 23, 2021, after officers were called to Bland’s home in South Florida during a violent disturbance. Bland told people Jesus Christ was coming and COVID was going to kill everyone, and she claimed she was trying to baptize everyone in the house. Bland’s husband told investigators she held the 15-month-old underwater in a bathtub until the child became unresponsive. He also said Bland ordered another child to get a knife, then stabbed him multiple times when the child complied. Bland’s husband and the couple’s 16-year-old daughter survived the attack.

The defense argued that Bland was suffering a COVID-related psychotic episode and presented expert testimony to support the insanity claim. Prosecutors argued the behavior was disturbing but not legally insane, and that the psychosis explanation was fabricated or exaggerated. De la O accepted the defense theory and said there was “zero credible explanation” other than a psychotic state.

After the verdict, Bland said, “God is good. This doesn’t bring back my daughter.” She also said, “I’m thankful. I love my children.” Bland had rejected a plea offer before trial, forcing the case into a judge-only proceeding that ended with the insanity finding.