On Tuesday, a New York woman pleaded not guilty to murdering her 11-month-old daughter who died after she was found in a utility tunnel on Sunday.
The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle reported that Persia Nelson, 24, is also charged with manslaughter in connection with the death of her daughter, Halo Branton, who was discovered in a tunnel at the General Electric plant in Schenectady. Twelve hours earlier, Nelson was allegedly caught trespassing in a heated General Electric building while claiming she did not know how she got there and her child was missing.
Nelson is believed to have dropped Branton into an 8-foot pipe leading to a utility tunnel surrounded by mud and water. An AMBER Alert was issued two hours before the baby was found.
A medical examiner determined Branton died from exposure and hypothermia — not drowning. Officials said the infant’s face was not submerged even though the water came up to her chest and around her head.
READ: Mom Charged With Murder in Death of Baby She Allegedly Dropped into Utility Tunnel
According to the New York Post, Nelson posted on Facebook about being drunk hours before her daughter was found in the tunnel.
“I’m drunk asf don’t play with me right now lmfaooo,” she allegedly wrote.
The Times-Union reported that Nelson and her daughter attended a gathering near the General Electric plant on Saturday. Officials believe Nelson traveled down a hill and trespassed onto the General Electric TK
A woman claiming to be the cousin of Branton’s father told the news outlet that Nelson and the baby lived in a local homeless shelter as the father fought for custody. Prosecutors revealed that Nelson does not have custody of her other child, according to the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle.
Nelson, who remains jailed without bail, is due back in court on Friday.
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[Feature Photo: Persia Nelson, Halo Branton/Facebook]
