State v. Stovall

CHARGES: Two counts of aggravated murder

POTENTIAL PENALTY: Death (Capital Offense Case)

VENUE: Hamilton County, Cincinnati, Ohio

ALLEGATION: Mother intentionally drowned her 4-year-old child and 20-month old baby in the bathtub of her apartment.

DISPOSITION: Trial to Court

RESULT: Not guilty by reason of insanity (only the second time in Hamilton County history a defendant facing the death penalty was acquitted.) At trial, Mr. Bennett successfully argued that when deliberately drowning her two children Ms. Stovall did not understand the wrongfulness of her conduct because she was experiencing psychotic dementia paranormal psychosis related to the devil.

ARTICLES
Young Children Killed (Cincinnati Enquirer)
Attorney: Mother not competent to stand trial (Cincinnati Post)
Mom who killed her children not guilty because of insanity (Cincinnati Enquirer)

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