A Florida woman, Precious Bland, has been acquitted of all criminal charges in the August 2021 deaths of her 15-month-old daughter and the stabbings of her husband and teen daughter. Bland's defense team successfully argued that she was suffering from a psychotic break, exacerbated by COVID-19, at the time of the incident.
During a two-day bench trial in Miami-Dade County, defense attorney Larry Handfield presented evidence that Bland experienced command hallucinations. According to reports, she believed voices in her head were instructing her to baptize her relatives, who had also contracted the respiratory illness. Bland allegedly told her family that "Jesus Christ is coming and COVID is going to kill us all" and insisted on baptisms.
Following these delusions, Bland admitted to holding her infant daughter underwater until she became unresponsive. When her husband attempted to intervene, she reportedly stabbed him and their 16-year-old daughter as they tried to escape. Authorities responded to the scene, and Bland was subsequently arrested.
Judge Miguel de la O delivered the verdict, finding Bland not guilty by reason of insanity on one count of aggravated manslaughter and two counts of first-degree attempted murder. Upon hearing the ruling, Bland expressed remorse and relief, stating, "God is good. This doesn’t bring back my daughter. I’m thankful. I love my children."