Doctors say mother who confessed to killing sons at Bronx shelter was in state of psychosis
MOUNT HOPE, The Bronx (WABC) -- Doctors say the mother who confessed to killing her two children at a family shelter in the Bronx in 2022 suffered from postpartum psychosis.
A judge has found Dimone Fleming not guilty by reason of insanity for the deaths of her children at a Bronx family shelter in 2022.
The boys, 3-year-old Daishawn and 11-month-old Octavius, were found with multiple stab wounds in a bathtub.
Police described her behavior at the time as erratic and the then-22-year-old mother was charged with first degree murder.
But mental evaluations conducted by both the prosecution and defense have since determined Fleming was in a state of psychosis and Bronx judge ruled Monday she is "not responsible due to mental disease or defect."
Dr. Veerle Bergink is the director of Mount Sinai Women's Health Center.
"The risk for harming the children, as in doing harm or even, you know, ending their lives is is very small," Bergink said. "But because it's such a dramatic outcome every time that happens, there is a lot of media attention for this horrific outcome. But if we look at the numbers, then that outcome is actually very rare."
Dr. Bergink is an internationally renowned expert in postpartum, mania and psychosis.
"A lot of things are happening in the body and brain, right after delivery, including there is a major change in hormones," Bergink said. "There's a free fall in hormones after delivery, and we think that is partly the trigger."
The young mother - suffering from postpartum psychosis at the time - is not being released from custody.
A new evaluation has been ordered to determine how she might still be a threat to others.
She is expected back in court on Sept. 18.
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