Boy, 3, died after being pushed for 44 hours on a swing by mom - US News - News - Daily Express US
WARNING - DISTRESSING CONTENT: Ji'Aire Donnell Lee's death was ruled a homicide, but even so, his mother was found not criminally responsible due to her mental health condition.
A mother pushed her young son on a swing for two consecutive days, resulting in his death
Romechia Simms was just 24 years old when her schizophrenia drove her to this tragic act, continuously pushing the lifeless body of her son, Ji'Aire Donnell Lee, who had succumbed to dehydration and hypothermia, back and forth on the swing for 44 hours
Authorities determined Ji'Aire was still alive when first placed on the swing, but died two days afterward. They responded to the alarming scene at La Plata park, South Maryland, in 2015 following a call from a concerned citizen, reports Mirror US
The Charles County Sheriff's Office revealed that their investigation showed Simms had been pushing him in the swing since arriving at the park 44 hours earlier, at around 11.15am on May 2. Overnight temperatures had plummeted to 50F.
Spokeswoman Diane Richardson confirmed an autopsy established the toddler died of dehydration and hypothermia, and his death had been ruled a homicide.
Simms had a well-documented history of mental health issues and had previously suffered a mental breakdown, leading her mother to plead for understanding.
Vontasha Simms shared a photo of Ji'Aire on Facebook, announcing she was establishing a charity in his memory to emphasize "the desperate needs of those who are mentally ill," and that "there is a need that must be filled," she wrote.
