Miami-Dade Judge Orders Psychiatric Medication for Mother Accused of Killing Daughter

A Miami-Dade judge has ordered Jellisa Baxter, a North Miami Beach mother accused of killing her 3-year-old daughter, to take psychiatric medications while in county jail.

Baxter, 26, confessed to strangling and then stabbing her daughter and was indicted on a first-degree murder charge, with the death penalty as a possible punishment. However, she was found incompetent to stand trial last year after being diagnosed with schizophrenia. Doctors reported that Baxter suffered from delusions, including the belief that her daughter was still alive.

During a hearing on Tuesday, Judge Andrea Wolfson emphasized the necessity of treatment to address Baxter’s condition, stating, “Ms. Baxter could literally sit and remain incompetent within MDCR custody ad infinitum.”

The judge’s ruling underscores the importance of administering psychiatric care within the criminal justice system, particularly in cases where mental health conditions significantly impact legal proceedings. Baxter will remain under medical supervision as the case continues.