A 22-year-old Ohio woman, Deasia Watkins has pleaded guilty after she was arrested for killing her 3-month-old daughter.
Speaking before an Hamilton County, Ohio, judge, Watkins however insisted that she loved her daughter despite the incident.
She was on Thursday sentenced to 15 years in prison after admitting before that she decapitated her 3-month-old daughter. Watkins pleaded guilty to one count of murder of her 3 month old infant daughter, Jayniah.
Watkins who appears to be suffering from a brain disorder fractured her daughter’s arm before stabbing her repeatedly and then beheading her, court records show. The child has reportedly previously been placed with Watkins’ aunt due to her erratic behavior from onset.
Prosecutors said Watkins however went to her aunt’s house and killed her child while her aunt was asleep, and then put the knife in Jayniah’s hand. “She later told police she did that so people would think the child did it to herself, not her,”
For more than a year, Watkins had been mounting an insanity defense. Court documents show that she had been diagnosed with postpartum psychosis, for which she is still receiving treatment.
Watkins while addressing the court at her hearing on Thursday, expressing remorse for her crime. She said, “I love my daughter very much. I loved her, regardless of what anybody says.”
Court officials say she could be released from custody when she’s 35, given she’s received credit for time already served.