She drowned her baby in a bath, and a judge blamed a COVID mental break
A Miami judge found Precious Bland not guilty of murder by reason of insanity after the 2021 death of her 15-month-old daughter.
How can a mother turn on her own baby? This is the tragic question at the heart of a case that has shocked many.
WHAT HAPPENED
In 2021, Precious Bland drowned her 15-month-old daughter in a bathtub in Miami. She also attacked her own family during the same event.
Bland said she had a sudden mental break. She told police that COVID-19 caused her to see things that were not there.
In June 2026, Judge Miguel de la O found Bland not guilty by reason of insanity. He agreed with doctors who said the virus caused her to lose her grip on reality.
WHAT THE EVIDENCE SHOWS
Bland was 43 years old during the 2021 incident.
- Her daughter was 15 months old.
- The judge accepted proof of a severe COVID-linked mental break.
- Doctors showed she saw and believed things that were not real.
- This is one of the first successful uses of a COVID-psychosis defense.
THE BIGGER QUESTION
Can a virus really make someone lose their grip on reality? This case forces us to look at how we treat mental health and physical sickness. If a common virus can trigger a sudden mental break, how do we protect our families?
We must ask if our medical system is ready to handle these rare but deadly side effects.
THE OTHER SIDE
Many people online feel there must be hard punishment for the loss of a child's life. They argue that insanity rulings do not bring justice for the victim. Yet, the medical facts in this case were very strong and convinced a veteran judge.
WHAT HAPPENS NOW
This ruling may change how courts view mental health and viral illnesses. Lawyers might use this defense in future cases where a virus affects the brain.
For regular people, it means we must take the mental side effects of physical sickness more seriously.
WHAT WE STILL DON'T KNOW
How does COVID-19 trigger such extreme mental breaks in rare cases?
- Where will Precious Bland go for her mental health treatment now?
- What could have been done to stop this tragedy before it happened?
Transparency notes
Published: Jun 25, 2026. No major post-publication update has been logged.
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Sources
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