New Jersey Mother Found Not Guilty of Murder by Reason of Insanity After Drowning Her Two Children

New Jersey Mother Found Not Guilty of Murder by Reason of Insanity After Drowning Her Two Children

A woman from New Jersey has been cleared of murder charges after drowning her toddlers, claiming she aimed to eradicate evil from the world for religious reasons. The 27-year-old mother, Naomi Elkins, was acquitted of charges connected to the deaths of her daughters, aged one and three, following a ruling by Superior Court Judge Guy P. Ryan.

In a tragic incident that occurred on June 25 in Lakewood, Elkins drowned her children in separate bathtubs. While Judge Ryan confirmed that Elkins committed the acts, he declared her not guilty by reason of insanity. As a result, she will spend the equivalent of 150 years in a secure psychiatric hospital, split into two life sentences corresponding to each child’s demise.

The Events Leading to the Drowning

Elkins confessed to authorities that she held each child underwater for several minutes. Her disturbing admission revealed that she initially attempted to stab one of her daughters in the stomach. Unsure if this would result in her death, Elkins then submerged the child in the bathtub for an extended period, ensuring she held her down long enough.

The elder daughter witnessed the horror unfold and tried to escape, but Elkins caught her and repeated the act in another bathroom. After the children were found unresponsive, Elkins called emergency services to report the incident.

The Psychological Evaluation

Psychologist Gianni Pirelli testified during the trial, asserting that Elkins was in a psychotic state during the acts. He noted that she believed herself or her husband to be a messianic figure, further complicating the understanding of her mental health at the time of the incident.

Pirelli described Elkins’ emotional state post-incident as