A Texas mother allegedly suffering from mental illness admitted to killing her 5-year-old daughter by slitting her throat and suffocating her with a plastic bag, reportedly saying she was an “evil child” and “did not want to deal with her anymore,” according to an affidavit.
On Sunday, October 16, Precinct 4 constables responded to a call about a young girl being transported to a hospital after being reportedly cut by her mother, according to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.
Melissa Towne, the 37-year-old woman, allegedly told authorities she killed her daughter, Nichole, at Spring Creek Park in Tomball.
Towne reportedly drove her daughter to a hospital after she allegedly cut, strangled, and suffocated her for more than half an hour.
The 5-year-old girl was found in a mesh bag in Towne’s Cherokee Jeep with a laceration to her neck and possible ligature marks, said officials.
The little girl was pronounced dead, and the county’s district attorney’s office charged Towne with capital murder. She was booked in Harris County Jail and is being held on a $15 million bond.
Towne appeared in court on Tuesday and was reportedly seen crying during a brief hearing.
James Stafford, her court-appointed attorney, claimed that she had previously been diagnosed with schizophrenia and had been institutionalized about nine times due to her alleged mental illness.
He told reporters that he is confident that the homicide is linked to Towne’s mental illness. “There’s no doubt there’s some dark demons haunting her,” Stafford claimed.
Harris County law enforcement officials are not the only ones investigating Nichole’s death.
Child Protective Services (CPS) stated that it is also investigating the case, mentioning that Towne had a prior history with the agency. CPS, however, did not disclose any further details.
Towne has three other children between ages 2 and 18 who are currently living with relatives, according to a statement by CPS, per CBS.