Disturbing details released in court in stabbing death of 2-month-old

HOUSTON – Police have charged Rochelle Brown, 28, with capital murder in the stabbing death of her 2-month-old son Levi Thornton-Smith. She is being held without bond.

The mother of three was scheduled to appear in court Wednesday morning, but her attendance was waived due to her psychiatric care. Prosecutors read details before a judge regarding her case.

According to court documents, Brown's sister tried to stop her from stabbing the child but  was overpowered, she told police. The baby was stabbed several times in the torso, the documents read.

Houston police arrived at her apartment in the 10100 block of Windmill Lakes Blvd around 2 a.m. Tuesday. Police say they found knives and the infant boy in the living room with multiple stab wounds.

Brown is the mother of two other children aged 5 and 8 years old. The family recently moved to Houston from Nebraska. Before police arrived, Brown's sister told officers she noticed the young mom was acting strange.

"She (Brown's sister) was asleep in her bedroom when her sister, the defendant, woke her up screaming and yelling. According to the witness she wasn't making sense and was holding the complainant in an improper manner," prosecutors said.

According to court documents Brown threw the baby on the bed and returned with a knife. "She (Brown's sister) stated she tried to stop her, but the defendant was too strong," prosecutors said.

Neighbors said they heard a commotion coming from the apartment early Tuesday morning.

"Everybody was up. It was like dogs barking. It sounded like a war zone. You don't want to use the cliche, but it was loud noises like that," neighbor Kris Atkins said.

Guillermo Trevino, who lives next door to the family at The Longboat Key Apartments on Windmill and Stover said, "I heard a woman screaming saying 'Stop.' She was crying out to stop."

Police said the mother's adult sister and the other two other children inside the apartment were sleeping when it happened, and they were not hurt.

Another neighbor told KPRC Channel 2 News the mother awakened her sister by beating her as she lay in bed. Brown's sister ran to a neighbor for help. The neighbor rushed over to find Brown stabbing the baby. He said Brown's hands were covered with blood, and she repeatedly said, "I need Jesus."

Paramedics took Brown to Ben Taub hospital for a mental and physical evaluation.

"She was very distraught. I don't think there were any injuries on her. Just mentally, she seemed a little bit unstable," David Stark, with the Houston Police Department's homicide division said.

After her release from the hospital Tuesday, Brown was charged with capital murder.

Priscilla Garcia, along with other neighbors, were stunned.

"Me, I'm a mother of two kids and I can't imagine ever doing anything like that to my kids," said Garcia. "It's heartbreaking."

Investigators say they have not yet determined a motive in the killing. Houston defense attorney George Parnham says it's important that Brown obtain a lawyer and immediately for an independent mental evaluation recorded on video.

"Pretty soon, if she is suffering from psychotic delusion, she's going to get medication, and she's going to get better and she's not going to be the same mother we see being evaluated today." Parnham said.

Parnham defended Andrea Yates who drowned her five children in a bathtub in 2001. Yates was found initially convicted of capital murder, but the conviction was later overturned and she was found to be not guilty by reason of insanity. Yates was found to be suffering from post-partum depression after the birth of her last child.

Brown is being held without bond. Her other two children are being placed with an aunt under the supervision of Child Protective Services.


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