Police: Athens mom claims mental health condition caused her to smother child
Decatur DailyApr 14, 2017
Police said
Smith told investigators she lied to police initially because she was "scared of what would happen to me," police Chief
"You've got to feel for her," Johnson said. "She's got some issues she's dealing with. This would be hard on anyone who didn't have issues, so it's definitely going to be hard on her."
Johnson said Smith told investigators "she would hurt herself if she didn't come tell this. It affected her that dramatically."
Smith was remorseful during her interview with investigators and seemed "in a very good frame of mind" Wednesday, he said.
Before she came to the
Information on her mental health treatment was unavailable, but Johnson said Smith listed multiple different medications during the interview. She also mentioned a therapist during the interview, he said.
"She said she sees red. And when she sees red, she doesn't know what happens until it goes away," Johnson said.
Multiple family members confirmed Smith's long-term struggle with mental health, he said.
Before Smith's confession, police were waiting on some of Zadie's subpoenaed medical records in order to continue the investigation. The results of a private autopsy did not reveal the cause of death, police said.
Johnson said the department's next step would have been for another pathologist to review the medical records in order to find a possible cause of death.
Smith initially told investigators she heard something on the baby monitor and found Zadie between the bed and wall, and she was not breathing, records show.
Smith provided the same sequence of events during an
According to police, Smith called 911 on
The mom performed CPR upon instruction from a 911 operator, but
Police will continue gathering medical records and interviewing the mother's family and friends, Johnson said.
Smith will not be released from jail because capital murder is a non-bailable offense, according to court records. Under
Court records show
A preliminary hearing for the case is set for
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