(dramatic music) - [Caller] She ain't supposed to be here, Robert. - [Dispatcher] Cincinnati 911, what's the address of your emergency? - [Caller] Somebody please send the police, my niece killed her baby! - Okay, ma'am. - Please, somebody - What is the address? gotta help me. 5957 Wildwood Lord help me! - Okay, ma'am. Ma'am, you were just talking to somebody, who were you just talking to? - [Caller] My son, he came over here and he found her, I was asleep and then and he had his kids here to go to school, 'cause they go from my house and he seen the baby on my counter. Oh my god help me! - [Dispatcher] Okay, ma'am, listen to me, listen, I need you to stop crying, okay, stop crying. - Help me. - I need you to help, I need you to take a deep breath and tell me what happened. - [Caller] Ma'am, please send the police right away. - [Dispatcher] Ma'am, you weren't crying when I heard you talking to him, you were fine and then when I picked up you started crying. I need you to tell me what's going on. - [Caller] Ma'am, I am crying, I'm outside screaming. - [Dispatcher] What happened? - [Caller] But he keeps telling me to calm down. I don't know what. - What happened? - [Caller] All I know is my son came in here and woke me up and then, "Mama, the baby's dead." And I'm like, "What are you talking about, Lord, I'm going to jail 'cause she killed this baby." Oh god. - Okay, why are you saying she killed the baby? - [Caller] Because the baby is in the room. Here talk to my son about it, Robert come and talk to her, I can't even talk to her. - [Dispatcher] How old is the baby? - [Caller] The baby is three months, oh my god, I'm going to jail! - Hello? - What happened? - Okay, please. - [Dispatcher] Where is the three-month-old baby? - [Robert] Listen, lady, the baby is deceased. - [Dispatcher] Okay, okay. (climactic music) - [Narrator] It's not unusual for women who have given birth to experience mild mood changes after having a baby. It's commonly known as the baby blues and lasts only a few days. But sometimes a mother can fall into depression or on rare occasions even psychosis. Around one in 500 mothers experience symptoms of postpartum psychosis such as confused thinking, delusions, hallucinations, a manic mood and cognitive symptoms. It often develops quickly, within weeks of delivery. Many in the psychiatry field consider it a clinical emergency due to the risk of self-harm or injury to others. A 2012 article in the "Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and Law" states that postpartum psychosis is best treated in a hospital because of the rapidly evolving symptoms risk for the mother and infant. In addition, it has been estimated that untreated postpartum psychosis carries an infanticide risk of 4% and the suicide risk of 5%. Furthermore, researchers have detected a pattern of powerlessness, poverty and alienation among mothers who kill. Likewise noted is the need for better accessibility of services for women at risk. Interestingly, postpartum psychosis has been described for 2,000 years. In 400 B.C., Hippocrates documented a case of confusion, hallucinations and insomnia six days after a woman gave birth. Although modern science supports a genetic component to the risk and studies have demonstrated the profound affects of hormones on brain chemistry, the "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders" does not include it as a diagnosis. Some in psychiatric circles have questioned whether the absence of a formal DSM diagnosis causes failure to identify and adequately treat postpartum psychosis. Considering what's at stake, this is a reasonable question. - This is and I wanna turn this over to Dr. Sammarco here in a second but this is, this is one of the most disturbing cases I've ever seen in my life. It's a good reason to retire at some point. - [Narrator] 27-year-old Deasia Watkins spent much of her early years in a highly volatile and dysfunctional family environment. In fact, it was the complete opposite of a loving and nurturing environment as neglect and verbal abuse were normalized. Her mother, Tina Johnson was the primary caretaker. A psychiatrist in 1997 said she exhibited significant deficiencies with respect to parenting and intellectual functioning. Johnson was diagnosed with depression, mild intellectual disability and schizoaffective disorder. She also struggled with polysubstance abuse. Her father, Terrance Watkins was never around as he was either incarcerated or absent. He had his own substance abuse issues as well. And unfortunately the end result for Deasia was severe neglect. The apartment was perpetually filthy and there was insufficient clothing or food to eat. Occasionally she was left with strangers or completely alone to fend for herself. According to court records reviewed by "The Enquirer," in 1998 a teenager was sexually assaulted in the family's apartment while looking after three-year-old Deasia and her brother. The prosecutor at that time noted there are reasonable grounds to believe the children are in immediate danger. From then until roughly 13, Deasia was introduced to the child welfare system. She was frequently involved in juvenile court matters and attended dozens of hearings. She was in and out of foster homes and was seen by many therapists and social workers. On one occasion, she was sent to an emergency shelter for kids. To no one's surprise, Deasia was profoundly affected by her living conditions. One therapist noted that she suffered from grief and abandonment issues. In addition, for the first four years of her life, she was essentially non-verbal. One social worker stated "She has no vocabulary." It was in 1998 that the court took custody of Deasia and her brother. Because they had different fathers, Deasia and her brother were separated. Deasia was sent to live with an aunt in Cincinnati. For a brief period, social workers reported she was happy and well cared for. However, personal problems made it impossible for the aunt to continue to look after Deasia and she had no choice but to give up custody. As a result, five-year-old Deasia felt abandoned yet again. Fortunately for Deasia, Barbara Owens, a longtime friend of the family said she would be happy to care for her. She had raised 10 kids of her own and was sure she could provide a stable environment for the young girl. And it helped that there were many grandchildren around for her to socialize with. Owens said that it was obvious that Deasia had potential, she was bright and no different than the other kids. Still it was also apparent that her harsh upbringing negatively affected her. "You could tell that she was holding stuff in," said Owens. Despite that, four years later social workers had determined that Owens had provided a caring and nurturing environment in which Deasia was thriving. She would occasionally ask her therapist whether her mother still thought about her. Otherwise, she was doing well and had adapted nicely to her new surroundings. But surprisingly in 2005, Deasia's mother had returned to the picture and threatened her newfound stability. She wrote a letter to the court part of which said, "I can take care of my children now. I got myself together and I miss my children very much. I want to see them and I want them to come home." She filed a petition to regain custody of her children and went as far as to accuse Owens of neglect. For her part, Owens wasn't too concerned as Johnson's record was poor. She dropped out of the court-mandated drug treatment program, missed several appointments for supervised visits and skipped Deasia's counseling sessions. Then she failed to appear at the custody hearing. Afterward she wrote an explanation to the magistrate which said, "I'm a good mother. I love my children with all my heart. I missed the bus, so I had to wait for the next one and that was an hour wait." Johnson continued to pursue custody while Owens stated that she was receiving continued harassment from Johnson's relatives. Deasia was also affected as she felt torn between Owens and her biological mother. Her therapist noticed as well. They were reported to the court the constant turmoil was hard on Deasia. Her grades in school started to suffer as she struggled to sort out her loyalties to her mom and Owens. One year later in 2007, Mrs. Johnson's persistence would pay off. Citing the constant harassment by Deasia's biological relatives, Owens made the heart wrenching decision to give up custody. She called Deasia's social worker and tearfully explained her decision. Deasia packed her belongings and was taken to a shelter. Eventually the social workers placed her with another relative, Michele Johnson to take temporary custody of her. By all accounts she had a relative period of stability under the care of Michele Johnson. By 2014, then 19-year-old Deasia had moved out of Michele's house and was living with her boyfriend. She became pregnant and gave birth at the end of 2014. Barbara Owens who had kept in touch with Deasia said Deasia was excited about becoming a mom. She claimed Deasia said, "I wanna have a baby so I can give her love I never had." However, it was not long before Deasia's latent mental health issues would surface. (police sirens blaring) Just weeks after she had given birth to baby Janiyah, police were called to Deasia's apartment. Upon arrival, they could clearly hear a baby crying and Deasia screaming. According to the child's father, she was acting crazy and speaking of demons. At first she refused to cooperate. She wouldn't open the door and when the police finally gained entry, she refused to hand over the weeks old infant. Ultimately, officers were able to leave with the child and as they went, Deasia fainted with her eyes opened. Deasia was taken to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center following the incident and given a psychological evaluation. She was diagnosed with postpartum psychosis and admitted to Deaconess Hospital for 72 hours. At an abuse and neglect hearing on March 6th, the juvenile court judge ordered the Department of Job and Family Services to take custody of the baby due to Deasia's psychiatric problems. According to the judge, Deasia posed an imminent risk of harm to her child. Her boyfriend, who's paternity had not yet been established was also ordered to stay away from the baby when the court found both parents were neglectful. The judge ordered Janiyah placed in state custody. Social workers arranged temporary guardianship with Deasia's aunt under strict orders not to allow Deasia in the home or near the baby. Unfortunately, the courts were unaware that Deasia in the midst of postpartum psychosis was welcomed back to the aunt's house just days after the hearing. On Monday morning, March 16th at 6 a.m., a five-year-old relative was dropped off at the aunt's house as usual to wait for the school bus. But unfortunately, the young boy encountered a gruesome scene upon entering the house. Three-month-old baby Janiya's lifeless body was observed on the kitchen counter. Her head severed, her arm fractured and her tiny body pierced with 15 stab wounds from a butcher's knife. The boy frantically ran outside to get his father who woke up the aunt. In a panic-stricken and highly emotional state, she dialed 911. - [Caller] She ain't supposed to be here, Robert. - [Dispatcher] Cincinnati 911, what's the address of your emergency. - [Caller] Somebody please send the police, my niece killed her baby. - Okay, ma'am. - [Caller] Please, somebody's gotta help me. - [Dispatcher] What is the address? - [Caller] 5957 Wildwood. - Okay, ma'am. - Lord help me! - [Dispatcher] Ma'am, you were just talking to somebody, who were you just talking to? - [Caller] My son, he came over here, he found the baby, I was asleep. And he had his kids here to go to school, 'cause they go from my house and he seen the baby oh my goodness, oh my god help me! - [Dispatcher] Ma'am, listen to me, listen to me, I need you to stop, stop crying okay? I need you to help, I need you to take a deep breath and tell me what happened. - [Dispatcher] Ma'am, please send the police right away. - [Dispatcher] Ma'am you weren't crying when I heard you talking to him, you were fine and then when I picked up you started crying. I need you to tell me what's going on. - [Caller] Ma'am I am crying, I'm outside screaming. - [Dispatcher] What happened? - [Caller] But he keep telling me to calm down. I don't know what. - What happened? - [Caller] All I know is my son came in here and woke me up and then, "Momma, the baby's dead." And I'm like, "What are you talking about?" Lord, I'm going to jail 'cause she killed this baby. Oh god help me. - [Dispatcher] Okay, why are you saying she killed the baby? - [Caller] Because the baby is in the room. Here talk to my son, Robert, come and talk to her, I can't even talk to her. - [Dispatcher] How old is the baby? - [Caller] The baby is three months, oh my god, I'm going to jail, I'm going to jail! - [Robert] Hello? - [Dispatcher] What happened? - [Dispatcher] Yes, please, I don't know, this house is big, I don't know where my little cousin at. So can you please? - [Dispatcher] Where is the three-month-old baby? - [Robert] Lady, the baby is on my momma's kitchen counter with it's head smashed. Now I need you to please send me. - [Dispatcher] Okay, is it a male or a female? - [Robert] I don't know where my little cousin is at. Now if the little girl pops out with a weapon, I'm not gonna have a little cousin no more. So can you please, I know it's probably hard, can you please just send the police. - [Dispatcher] Okay, I need to know what happened to the baby. - [Robert] I don't know what happened to the baby. I came into the house, she told you, I came into the house, the baby was on the counter, my mom was in the bed asleep, I woke my mom up and we calling you. That's all I know. I don't know nothing else. I have a little cousin, she was here, I don't know where she is. - [Dispatcher] Okay, listen to me, listen to me. Is the baby breathing? - [Robert] Listen, lady, the baby is deceased. - [Dispatcher] Okay, okay, all right, we're sending the police and an ambulance okay? - [Robert] All right. Mama. - The baby's dead, - Mama, hush, hello? - What is your name, sir? - I'm going to jail! - [Robert] I'm Robert Stewart. - I'm going to jail. - And who is the mother of the child? - Huh? - Who is the mother? - Deasia. What is Deasia's last name? - Watkins! - [Robert] Watkins. - [Dispatcher] Is she there right now? - [Robert] No, I don't know where she's at. That's the problem, I don't know where this little girl is at. I don't even know if she in this house. It's a big house, lady, please, I'm not, I don't wanna look for her, I don't wanna look for her. So, would you please, please send the police. - [Dispatcher] Listen to me, sir, we already have the run started okay? - [Robert] All right. - [Dispatcher] So no one has any idea what happened to the child? - [Robert] Listen, lady, I cannot explain to you what happened 'cause I do not know. Nobody knows, it happened sometime in the middle of the night. - [Dispatcher] Okay, can you, what do you see when you look at the child. - [Robert] Look, look, lady, I don't wanna describe the scene. The scene is very, very bad, all right. The little baby head is open, like open, open. - Okay. - [Robert] I'm not going in there to touch nothing, 'cause I don't wanna mess nothing up. I'm not going in there to look 'cause I already seen it, but it's not, it's very violent. It's a very violent scene, all right. It's very violent. - [Dispatcher] All right, sir, we have police and fire department responding out. - [Robert] All right. I gotta go back to the car 'cause my kids is outside. I don't know where this girl is at. Now Ma, I need you to, you either gonna lock yourself in here or I'm fitting to go out, 'cause I gotta go out here with Joe. - I'm not staying in here! - Then come outside Ma. You gotta pick, 'cause I gotta be out there with them. My kids is scared. I'm not looking nowhere, 'cause if I see her. (woman screaming) - [Caller] Bobby, I'm gonna die! - [Robert] You're not gonna die! (Robert hollering) I'm gonna die! - You're not gonna die! Quit saying that. Momma come on. I don't care about anything right now. Hello? - [Dispatcher] Yeah, I'm still here. Mr. Stewart. - [Robert] Can I call my aunt please? - [Dispatcher] Hey, can I speak, can I speak to your mom? - [Robert] Ma, the lady wanna talk to you. - [Caller] Hello. - [Dispatcher] Hey ma'am, listen to me okay, we have help on the way. (woman crying) What do you think happened? - I'm ready to die lady. - [Dispatcher] What did you? - [Caller] I'm ready to die. - [Dispatcher] What happened to the baby? - [Woman] My son won't let me go he just, I don't know! My niece, I helped her so much but I don't wanna die. - [Dispatcher] Are you talking about your daughter? - [Woman] I wanna dial my daughter I'm scared! (woman crying) - [Dispatcher] Okay, so no one can tell me what happened? - [Caller] No, my niece is (indistinct), oh my god! - [Dispatcher] All right, ma'am, we have help on the way okay? - [Caller] I'm so scared, oh my god, oh my god. I'ma die Ma'am please, somebody help me. Oh my god, oh my god, I don't know what I'm gonna do. Oh my god! (woman crying) Robert, in my house, why would she do this in my house! Oh my god, now, now, oh my god. - [Dispatcher] They're on their way okay? - [Narrator] Arriving officers found Deasia asleep and covered in blood. They said sometime late Sunday or early Monday morning she broke Janiya's arm, stabbed her at least 15 times and decapitated her. Then she carefully placed the large knife in the baby's hand to give officers the impression the three-month-old stabbed herself. Afterward she went to bed. She was immediately arrested and transported to Deaconess Hospital for a psychiatric evaluation. From there, she was booked into Hamilton County Jail on aggravated murder charges. Her bond was set at $500,000. - This is and I wanna turn this over to Dr. Sammarco here in a second but this is, this is one of the most disturbing cases I've ever seen in my life. It's a good reason to retire at some point and I wanna say one further thing, it's very important. The jobs and family services people did their job. The mother was ordered not to be with this baby. And the aunt who had custody of the child permitted the mother to come and live with her for approximately one week before this happened. Everyone in this county, we've dealt with these cases, I mean, since Marcus Fiesel and all these other cases that we've dealt with in terms of taking care of children who were neglected. This child was ordered removed from the mother and the father. JFS always pushes to try to find a family member who can take care of the kid. Whether or not this aunt was the right choice, I think, obviously it wasn't because she permitted the mother to come live with her. And this horrific tragedy ensued. But the bottom line is no one has the resources to monitor a mother and a neglected child 24/7, they just don't. They did what they had to do and unfortunately this occurred. I'm gonna turn this over to Dr. Sammarco right now. The nature of the injuries of this baby obviously were horrific and doctor, you wanna say a few words? - I know you've all asked repeatedly in the last 24 hours and I haven't really wanted to address the injuries directly but these were images that will be indelibly marked in my memory and I feel for the whole family of what they're going through. But there multiple stab wounds to the right side of the face and head. There was a fractured right arm. And as most of you have already been implying and I think some of the neighbors have said, the head was severed from the body. And so three-month-old baby girl, so it was pretty horrific, pretty horrific sight. - Any questions? - [Press] Doctor, the official cause of death on the child? - If you're asking. - Homicide. - That's the manner of death but as far as the cause, I mean, if you're asking me specifically what are we gonna put on the death certificate, we're gonna have to talk about it but obviously, decapitation is gonna be a word that we're gonna be using. - [Reporter] Does the aunt face any charges at this point? - We're still looking at that right now. Those are very difficult charges to prosecute. The order went to the mother, not to the aunt that she could not see the child but I wouldn't rule anything out. One of the problems is, we discussed is if we charge the aunt, we lose a very valuable witness, so we'll see where it goes. - [Narrator] Deasia pleaded guilty by reason of insanity and received a sentence of 15 years to life. With credit for time served, she will be eligible for parole in less than seven years. What is your view? Is there anything that could have been done differently to save the life of baby Janiya Watkins? Does the punishment fit the crime? Do you agree that a mother with postpartum psychosis who has found guilty of a crime should be treated more leniently? As usual, feel free to share your thoughts below. (dramatic music)