NEED TO KNOW
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Nichole Bradshaw-Towne was taken to the hospital with her throat slit and a bag around her head in 2022
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Her mother Melissa Towne, who took her to hospital, allegedly confessed to killing the 5-year-old
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Nichole pleaded with her mother not to kill her, telling her that she had been a “good” kid, per authorities
A Texas woman who allegedly confessed to killing her 5-year-old daughter has been found not guilty by reason of insanity.
Melissa Towne is accused of cutting her daughter Nichole Bradshaw-Towne’s throat before suffocating her with a trash bag at a park in Harris County, Texas, in October 2022, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said at the time.
She reportedly took the child to Spring Creek Park where she then allegedly attacked her, Gonzalez said.
During the attack, Nichole reportedly pleaded with her mother to spare her life, telling her she had been a “good” kid.
Nichole told her mother “I’ve been good,” as she put up a fight, prosecutors said at the time, according to ABC 13.
Melissa allegedly slit Nichole’s throat and, upon realizing her daughter was still alive, she wrapped the child’s head in a garbage bag for 30-40 minutes, suffocating her, according to prosecutors, KHOU 11 and Click 2 Houston.
Related: 5-Year-Old Who Prosecutors Allege Was Killed by Mom Was ‘Too Special,’ Aunt Says
Melissa then went to the hospital with the plastic bag still wrapped around the child’s head, KHOU 11 reported.
Melissa asked the hospital for a wheelchair, claiming her daughter was hurting. An ER nurse went to Melissa’s car and found Nichole’s body wrapped in plastic and a bag, KHOU 11, Click 2 Houston and The Houston Chronicle reported, citing authorities.
Melissa, who has a history of schizophrenia, reportedly told investigators that Nichole was “evil” and compared the child to “Chucky,” in reference to the horror film character, according to the outlets.
Melissa, who Click 2 Houston reports has three other children, will be admitted to a state mental health facility for the duration of what her prison sentence would have been.
GoFundMe Nichole Bradshaw-Towne
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In a GoFundMe set up by Nichole’s aunt soon after her killing, the little girl was remembered as “too good for this earth.”
“She was too special,” read part of the fundraiser.
Her father remembers her as the “sweetest little girl who never met a stranger,” per KHOU.
“She was so full of love and giggles, and her bright blue eyes shined so full of curiosity,” he said, per the outlet.
If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
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