Romechia Marie Simms

La Plata, MD - Romechia Marie Simms, 25 of Waldorf, whose 3-year-old toddler died in a swing set at Wills Park in La Plata May 22, 2015, will not see the inside of a jail cell.

Simms entered an Alford plea from the Charles County State's Attorney's Office Monday, Feb. 22, pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter, claiming she was not criminally responsible for the death of Ji'Aire Donnell Lee, who died after 44 hours in a bucket swing at the park.

According to Charles County Public Defender Michael Beach, Simms will be allowed to stay at her mother's residence and will be monitored by the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene for the rest of her life.

"I don't want the court to think the state is happy about this," Charles County State's Attorney Tony Covington told Charles County Circuit Court Judge H. James West. "It's the way it's set up, but as far as the state is concerned, she had a responsibility to Ji'Aire to take care of herself so she could take care of him. Ji'Aire is dead. He was essentially tortured to death and confined for 44 hours. He was not given food or water. In some places, that's how you torture people."

Charles County Assistant Public Defender Elizabeth Connell told the court Simms wanted to take care of her child, but voices in her head kept telling her "someone was coming

"The voice kept telling her to wait," she said. "Night turned into day. She was trapped there. This was not something she did intentionally. She was having a mental breakdown."

"It was a very frightening situation," Simms told the court. "I never intended to do anything hurtful to my child. I started to take my medicine. It was not working."

West said he would sign the order this afternoon, placing Simms under the care of the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

"My suggestion to you is to do everything this agency is requesting that you do," he said.

West told her that unlike most cases, where the burden of proof is on the state to prove the charges, because she pled not criminally responsible for her actions, "at a trial, it would be your burden to prove you're not criminally responsible."

For the original story, please refer to:

Jury trial to begin Monday for mother of dead toddler

Update - Mother of child found dead in swing charged

Contact Joseph Norris at joe.norris@thebaynet.com