Mentally Ill Mom Gets Prison Time For Decapitating Her Newborn Daughter

An Ohio woman with a documented history of mental illness has pled guilty to stabbing and beheading her newborn baby. But instead of going to a mental health institution, she will serve 15 years to life in prison for murdering the child who she says she loves.

The unspeakable tragedy occurred in March 2015 when 22-year old Deasia Watkins repeatedly stabbed Jayniah Watkins to death fracturing her arm in the process. Police found the baby lying on the kitchen counter at Watkins' aunt's house with the murder weapon, a chef's knife, in her hand. Watkins was discovered in a bed covered with blood and appeared to be suffering from "serious mental issues" according to county prosecutor Joe Deters.

Here's the plot twist. A juvenile court judge had previously placed little Jayniah in the custody of Hamilton County Job and Family Services because Watkins had been "acting crazy." Watkins was hospitalized. Watkins had been diagnosed with postpartum psychosis and was taking prescribed medication according to her attorneys.

Social workers placed the child temporarily with the aunt under the condition that she keep the baby away from the mother. Supervised visits would only take place if the social workers were present and if Watkins was taking her medication. Social workers made regular visits to the aunt's home. Unbeknownst to them, Watkins had moved in with her aunt about a week before the slaughter.

Somehow the courts rejected her initial insanity plea. She was ordered to undergo psychiatric treatment and was later found competent to stand trial. Prosecutors made a big issue with Watkins' effort to cover up the crime by placing the knife in the baby's hand: "She later told police she did that so people would think the child did it - not her," said Hamilton County Assistant Prosecutor David Prem per The Cincinnati Enquirer. 

Obviously, these are not the actions of a sane person. This young woman needs serious medical attention that she won't get in prison. Unfortunately, aberrant behavior in Black people is frequently viewed as criminal where in Whites it is deemed sickness. 

None of this had to happen. An innocent baby died a horrific death and the mother must now do hard time. Allowing Watkins to move in was a major fail. The safety and well-being of Jayniah should have been put first. But be clear--there are two victims here. The system did not work.