NYC Mother with Postpartum Psychosis Cleared of Murdering Her Sons
POLICY WIRE — New York City, USA — A Bronx judge has ruled that Dimone Fleming, a 26-year-old mother, is not criminally responsible for the 2022 deaths of her two sons due to a mental disease or...
POLICY WIRE — New York City, USA — A Bronx judge has ruled that Dimone Fleming, a 26-year-old mother, is not criminally responsible for the 2022 deaths of her two sons due to a mental disease or defect. The verdict was delivered on Monday.
Fleming is accused of stabbing her sons, Daishawn Fleming, 3, and Octavius Canada, 11 months, multiple times before drowning them in a bathtub at a Bronx family shelter on November 26, 2022. She was initially charged with two counts of first-degree murder.
The prosecution agreed that Fleming should not face a conventional criminal trial due to the severity of her mental illness. Psychiatrist Dr. Eric Goldsmith diagnosed her with severe postpartum psychosis, characterized by hallucinations and delusions, deeming her grossly psychotic and out of touch with reality.
Fleming believed that killing her children was necessary to protect or “cleanse” them, according to a forensic psychiatrist report commissioned by the defense. She will not serve prison time but will remain in custody for psychiatric evaluations.
This ruling comes as a Massachusetts jury deliberates in the case of Lindsay Clancy, who is accused of killing her three children in 2023. Clancy’s defense also argues that postpartum psychosis rendered her unable to understand or control her actions.
Fleming had received psychiatric treatment before the killings, including a two-month stay at a Queens hospital where she was diagnosed with major depressive disorder and prescribed medication. However, she did not adhere to the medication regimen and instead used marijuana daily, which reportedly exacerbated her symptoms.
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On the night of the incident, a shelter employee called 911 after noticing water and smoke coming from Fleming’s apartment. Police found Fleming acting irrationally and took her to a hospital for evaluation. The boys were discovered buried under clothes in the bathtub.
Fleming’s then-boyfriend and Octavius’ father, Columbus Canada, later found the boys unresponsive inside the apartment and called the police. Fleming allegedly confessed to the killings and made references to the “devil” while speaking with detectives.
A finding of not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect does not guarantee immediate freedom. Fleming could remain in a psychiatric facility for an extended period, depending on her condition and subsequent court decisions. Her next court hearing is scheduled for September 18.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
