A Nashville mother accused of drowning her daughter because she wanted to be left alone cried in court after her bail was denied and she was told she could be executed.
Brandi Elliot, 33, was charged with first-degree murder and denied bail after allegedly drowning her 7-year-old daughter Piper in Drakes Creek in Hendersonville on Saturday.
Elliot, who works at a McDonald’s restaurant, cried in court Tuesday as she told the judge that her husband, who has been disabled for years, was living with a disability.
Prosecutors have said they will consider seeking the death penalty for Elliot if she is convicted.
Elliot reportedly told police she had a bad day on Saturday and that Piper wouldn’t give her what she wanted: “me time.”
Brandi Elliot, 33, was charged with first-degree murder and denied bail after allegedly drowning her 7-year-old daughter Piper
Then she decided to take Piper to a shallow area in the green zone and held her underwater until bubbles appeared.
Elliot allegedly told the child to be quiet while holding her under water “like a big bass”
Elliot told the child to be quiet while holding her under the water “like a big bass,” WKRN reported.
The mother stated that she did not realize what she had done until it was too late and that she tried to revive Piper using CPR.
According to police, there is a family witness in the investigation. They have erected a memorial to Piper along the greenway and want to transform the area into ‘Piper’s Pathway’.
Elliot claimed in court on Tuesday that her daughter, who was two years old, had been diagnosed with postpartum depression but was not receiving medical care at the time.
The mother reportedly told police she was having a bad day and that Piper wouldn’t give her what she wanted: time to herself.
Elliot cried as she told the judge that her husband Jon, a veteran, was living with a disability
Elliot claimed in court on Tuesday that she was diagnosed with postpartum depression when her daughter was two
“When my daughter was two, I lost my temper just like this time,” Elliott said in court.
‘I had postpartum depression and they gave me medication for it. I couldn’t sleep very well.’
Both her attorney and the state said they did not want her to undergo a mental health evaluation at this time.
The suspect in the murder has no criminal record and works at McDonald’s.
According to organizer Kip Ziemer, a GoFundMe has been set up for Piper’s father Jon Elliot, who is a war veteran and was injured in combat.
The page states: ‘Jon needs as many donations as possible for the funeral and basic daily needs. He only receives a small allowance each month.’
Jon, who served in Iraq, posted a tribute to Piper online, writing: “I will miss my little girl forever.”