When investigators looked into what led up to the events in March 2015, they focused heavily on the warning signs that had already been present.

Deasia Watkins had been dealing with severe mental health challenges, including postpartum psychosis, a condition that can affect behavior and perception after childbirth. Family members and authorities had expressed concern about her condition before the incident.

Child services had taken action by removing the baby from her care and placing her with a relative. The goal was to ensure safety while the situation was being addressed.

However, on the day of the incident, Deasia was able to access the home where the child was staying.

She later pleaded guilty to murder in 2017 and was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison.

During the case, her defense emphasized her mental state, arguing that she was not fully aware of her actions and needed psychiatric treatment.

The case led to wider discussions about how mental health cases are handled, especially involving new mothers, and whether earlier or different intervention could have prevented such an outcome.

For many, it remains a deeply difficult case, not only because of what happened, but because of the questions it raised about support systems and missed opportunities to act.