Topline: Prosecutors say the mother acted with premeditation in the death of her 7-month-old daughter, who was rushed to the hospital but did not survive.
Published: January 16, 2026 8:38 am ET
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Tierra A. Scott-Franklin (via Alachua County Sheriff's Office)
GAINESVILLE, FL — A 23-year-old Florida woman is facing a charge of first-degree premeditated murder after police say she intentionally drowned her seven-month-old daughter in a bathtub at a northeast Gainesville apartment complex.
Officers and emergency medical personnel were called Wednesday afternoon to Sweetwater Square Apartments on Northeast 15th Street after a woman told a 911 dispatcher that she had drowned her baby, according to the Gainesville Police Department.
When responders arrived, they found a seven-month-old girl unresponsive in a bathtub. Life-saving efforts were immediately initiated, police said, and the infant was rushed to UF Health Shands Pediatrics, where she was later pronounced dead.
Police arrested Tierra Anne Scott-Franklin and transported her to the Alachua County Jail, where she made her first court appearance Thursday morning.
According to WCJB, Scott-Franklin was ordered held without bond on the premeditated murder charge. She also received no bond on additional charges and remains in custody.
Investigators said Scott-Franklin called police around 12:47 p.m. to report what had happened, according to a police report obtained by The Gainesville Sun.
In a statement to officers, Scott-Franklin admitted placing her daughter into a bathtub that was about half-filled with water, leaving the child’s face submerged, and then leaving the bathroom and closing the door. She told police she expected the child to “go,” the report states.
Scott-Franklin returned to the bathroom roughly five minutes later and removed the infant from the tub, according to the report. “The defendant states the victim was unresponsive, with a white substance coming from her nose and mouth,” the report says. Scott-Franklin told police she attempted chest compressions but stopped after seeing the substance, investigators said.
During questioning, Scott-Franklin told police she feared losing custody of her daughter due to other legal issues and said, “If I can’t have my baby, no one can,” according to the report. She also told investigators, “I’m sorry, but I don’t regret it,” police said.
The report further states that Scott-Franklin admitted to researching “suffocation” about two weeks before the drowning and said she has been “diagnosed with multiple mental illnesses and hears voices,” according to Fox 35 Orlando.
In court, Chanae Jackson, a local activist who spoke on Scott-Franklin’s behalf, told the judge that others had raised concerns about her mental state, according to WCJB. “Two others have reached out, she’s not well, she let people know she was not well and asked them to take the baby,” Jackson said.
Court records show Scott-Franklin was previously arrested in August 2025 in connection with a battery case involving a 67-year-old victim. According to WCJB, she now faces charges of battery of a person 65 years or older, violation of probation, and premeditated murder. The judge ordered that she have no unsupervised contact with minors and remain under constant supervision in the jail infirmary.
The investigation remains ongoing, according to the Gainesville Police Department.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Florida Mother Jailed for Allegedly Drowning 7-Month-Old Baby in Bathtub
Prosecutors say the mother acted with premeditation in the death of her 7-month-old daughter, who was rushed to the hospital but did not survive.
By Jacob Charles
Published: January 16, 2026 8:38 am ET
Tierra A. Scott-Franklin (via Alachua County Sheriff's Office)
GAINESVILLE, FL — A 23-year-old Florida woman is facing a charge of first-degree premeditated murder after police say she intentionally drowned her seven-month-old daughter in a bathtub at a northeast Gainesville apartment complex.
Officers and emergency medical personnel were called Wednesday afternoon to Sweetwater Square Apartments on Northeast 15th Street after a woman told a 911 dispatcher that she had drowned her baby, according to the Gainesville Police Department.
When responders arrived, they found a seven-month-old girl unresponsive in a bathtub. Life-saving efforts were immediately initiated, police said, and the infant was rushed to UF Health Shands Pediatrics, where she was later pronounced dead.
Police arrested Tierra Anne Scott-Franklin and transported her to the Alachua County Jail, where she made her first court appearance Thursday morning.
According to WCJB, Scott-Franklin was ordered held without bond on the premeditated murder charge. She also received no bond on additional charges and remains in custody.
Investigators said Scott-Franklin called police around 12:47 p.m. to report what had happened, according to a police report obtained by The Gainesville Sun.
In a statement to officers, Scott-Franklin admitted placing her daughter into a bathtub that was about half-filled with water, leaving the child’s face submerged, and then leaving the bathroom and closing the door. She told police she expected the child to “go,” the report states.
Scott-Franklin returned to the bathroom roughly five minutes later and removed the infant from the tub, according to the report. “The defendant states the victim was unresponsive, with a white substance coming from her nose and mouth,” the report says. Scott-Franklin told police she attempted chest compressions but stopped after seeing the substance, investigators said.
During questioning, Scott-Franklin told police she feared losing custody of her daughter due to other legal issues and said, “If I can’t have my baby, no one can,” according to the report. She also told investigators, “I’m sorry, but I don’t regret it,” police said.
The report further states that Scott-Franklin admitted to researching “suffocation” about two weeks before the drowning and said she has been “diagnosed with multiple mental illnesses and hears voices,” according to Fox 35 Orlando.
In court, Chanae Jackson, a local activist who spoke on Scott-Franklin’s behalf, told the judge that others had raised concerns about her mental state, according to WCJB. “Two others have reached out, she’s not well, she let people know she was not well and asked them to take the baby,” Jackson said.
Court records show Scott-Franklin was previously arrested in August 2025 in connection with a battery case involving a 67-year-old victim. According to WCJB, she now faces charges of battery of a person 65 years or older, violation of probation, and premeditated murder. The judge ordered that she have no unsupervised contact with minors and remain under constant supervision in the jail infirmary.
The investigation remains ongoing, according to the Gainesville Police Department.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Florida Mother Jailed for Allegedly Drowning 7-Month-Old Baby in Bathtub
Prosecutors say the mother acted with premeditation in the death of her 7-month-old daughter, who was rushed to the hospital but did not survive.
By Jacob Charles
Published: January 16, 2026 8:38 am ET
Tierra A. Scott-Franklin (via Alachua County Sheriff's Office)
GAINESVILLE, FL — A 23-year-old Florida woman is facing a charge of first-degree premeditated murder after police say she intentionally drowned her seven-month-old daughter in a bathtub at a northeast Gainesville apartment complex.
Officers and emergency medical personnel were called Wednesday afternoon to Sweetwater Square Apartments on Northeast 15th Street after a woman told a 911 dispatcher that she had drowned her baby, according to the Gainesville Police Department.
When responders arrived, they found a seven-month-old girl unresponsive in a bathtub. Life-saving efforts were immediately initiated, police said, and the infant was rushed to UF Health Shands Pediatrics, where she was later pronounced dead.
Police arrested Tierra Anne Scott-Franklin and transported her to the Alachua County Jail, where she made her first court appearance Thursday morning.
According to WCJB, Scott-Franklin was ordered held without bond on the premeditated murder charge. She also received no bond on additional charges and remains in custody.
Investigators said Scott-Franklin called police around 12:47 p.m. to report what had happened, according to a police report obtained by The Gainesville Sun.
In a statement to officers, Scott-Franklin admitted placing her daughter into a bathtub that was about half-filled with water, leaving the child’s face submerged, and then leaving the bathroom and closing the door. She told police she expected the child to “go,” the report states.
Scott-Franklin returned to the bathroom roughly five minutes later and removed the infant from the tub, according to the report. “The defendant states the victim was unresponsive, with a white substance coming from her nose and mouth,” the report says. Scott-Franklin told police she attempted chest compressions but stopped after seeing the substance, investigators said.
During questioning, Scott-Franklin told police she feared losing custody of her daughter due to other legal issues and said, “If I can’t have my baby, no one can,” according to the report. She also told investigators, “I’m sorry, but I don’t regret it,” police said.
The report further states that Scott-Franklin admitted to researching “suffocation” about two weeks before the drowning and said she has been “diagnosed with multiple mental illnesses and hears voices,” according to Fox 35 Orlando.
In court, Chanae Jackson, a local activist who spoke on Scott-Franklin’s behalf, told the judge that others had raised concerns about her mental state, according to WCJB. “Two others have reached out, she’s not well, she let people know she was not well and asked them to take the baby,” Jackson said.
Court records show Scott-Franklin was previously arrested in August 2025 in connection with a battery case involving a 67-year-old victim. According to WCJB, she now faces charges of battery of a person 65 years or older, violation of probation, and premeditated murder. The judge ordered that she have no unsupervised contact with minors and remain under constant supervision in the jail infirmary.
The investigation remains ongoing, according to the Gainesville Police Department.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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