State ‘could seek death penalty’ for Hendersonville mother charged with drowning 7-year-old daughter

Editor’s Note: The details are disturbing.

HENDERSONVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — The death penalty is an option for the state, according to a Tuesday hearing for a Hendersonville mother charged with drowning her 7-year-old daughter .

Brandi Elliott, 33, was charged with first-degree murder following the incident. No bond was set at the hearing because it could be a capital case. However, the District Attorney said they were not sure if they would seek the death penalty in this case.

When told that the state could pursue the death penalty, Elliott simply said “Yes, sir.” Her bond could be reviewed following a preliminary hearing.

Elliott is not currently under the care of any mental health professional, though she has been in the past. Elliott does not have any prior criminal court record. Elliott’s attorney declined for her to be placed under a mental health evaluation.

Hendersonville Police officers were notified about a child who had drowned in Drakes Creek on Saturday, July 13. Detectives later determined that Elliott was responsible for the child’s death. According to court documents, Elliott said that she wanted alone time “after having a rough day.”

Elliott also told officers she held her daughter under the water “like a largemouth bass” in a shallow area off the greenway until she felt her” bubbling,” according to court documents. She reportedly told the girl to be quiet while she held her under the water.

“When my daughter was two, I kind of lost it like I did this time,” Elliott said in court on Tuesday. “I had postpartum depression and they gave me medicine for it. I was having a really bad time with sleeping.”

Once she pulled the girl from the water, Elliott reportedly said she realized she had done something wrong and tried to revive her with CPR. However, the child was pronounced dead at a Hendersonville hospital around 11:45 p.m. The Davidson County Medical examiner told Fox 8 sister station News 2 that an autopsy on the girl is still pending.

A GoFundMe has been set up to help the girl’s father.

Elliott is currently being held in the Sumner County jail. No special accommodations have been made for her, according to Chief Deputy Eric Craddock. Elliott’s next hearing has been scheduled for August 14.

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