Mother Found Not Guilty, Claims COVID Influenced Infant's Death

WHO:

IJR - Precious Bland, a Miami woman

NY Post - Precious Bland, her husband, and her teen daughter

WHAT:

IJR - Precious Bland was acquitted after claiming COVID-19 caused her to drown her infant and stab her husband and other daughter.

NY Post - Precious Bland admitted to drowning her 15-month-old daughter in a bathtub and then knifing her husband and teen daughter in August 2021.

NY Post - Precious Bland was found not guilty by reason of insanity.

WHERE:

IJR - Miami, Florida

NY Post - Miami, Florida

WHEN:

NY Post - The incidents occurred in August 2021.

WHY:

IJR - Precious Bland claimed that COVID-19 influenced her actions.

HOW:

IJR - The acquittal was based on a reason of insanity ruling by Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Miguel de la O.

(UPDATED June 25, 2026 21:31 UTC)

Precious Bland, a Miami woman, has been acquitted after claiming that COVID-19 influenced her actions, which included drowning her 15-month-old daughter and stabbing her husband and teenage daughter in August 2021. The ruling, delivered by Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Miguel de la O, found her not guilty by reason of insanity. This controversial case has drawn significant attention due to the tragic nature of the events and the defense's reliance on the pandemic's impact on her mental state.