Judge In Hot Seat After COVID Insanity Claim Clears Mom Who Drowned Her Baby

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier is moving to impeach a judge for acquitting a mother who drowned her baby daughter. 

Judge Miguel de la O found 43-year-old Precious Bland not guilty on grounds of insanity, ruling that she was suffering from a “psychotic episode” caused by COVID-19. Bland reportedly drowned her 15-month-old daughter Emii in a bathtub after screaming, “Jesus Christ is coming, and COVID is going to kill us all,” and insisting that the children needed to be baptized. 

When Bland’s husband tried to intervene, she stabbed him several times with a knife. He escaped the scene with four of the couple’s children, but not before Bland stabbed their 16-year-old daughter in the forearm. 

Bland waived her right to a jury trial and was instead given a bench trial, which gives the judge absolute authority in handing down the verdict.

The defense argued that Bland was suffering from temporary insanity caused by COVID-19 and was unaware of what she was doing. The prosecution vigorously rejected this claim.

“She was verbalizing that the baby needed to stop breathing. So she was holding her down to make sure she stopped breathing,” a prosecutor said during opening statements. 

Despite using an insanity argument, Bland’s attorney Larry Handfield did not seek to have Bland institutionalized. He argued that her bout of insanity was entirely temporary and that institutionalization was unnecessary.

Uthmeier posted on social media that his office would be drafting articles of impeachment for the judge. “This was a bench trial. It’s time to impeach this judge,” Uthmeier wrote. “My office will be drafting articles of impeachment, and we look forward to working with all legislators who will support.”

This was a bench trial. It’s time to impeach this judge.

My office will be drafting articles of impeachment, and we look forward to working with all legislators who will support. https://t.co/Pxj9P3fUzS

— Attorney General James Uthmeier (@AGJamesUthmeier) June 25, 2026

Republican Governor DeSantis expressed his support for impeaching the judge and called on the Florida House “to do its duty.” 

Handfield argued that COVID-19 can cause paranoia and suicidal thoughts in some people. He said he believes this to be the first successful COVID-related insanity defense in the country. 

Judge de la O has yet to decide whether Bland will be institutionalized or require any further treatment.