Officials from the Illinois Department of Human Services have advised outpatient mental health treatment for a Xenia woman, Charity L. Bailey, 32, after she was declared not guilty by reason of insanity. This verdict stems from an incident on March 11th of 2023 where she attempted to drown her daughter.
This recommendation allows Bailey to avoid incarceration in either a prison or a mental health institution. A status hearing for her case is scheduled for July 23rd at the Wayne County Circuit Court, with a recent docket entry by Judge Denton Aud of White County.
Bailey’s husband, Ronnie, heard her singing gospel songs near a farm pond. He discovered her in roughly three feet of water, holding their two-year-old daughter underwater. He swiftly rescued the child and sought help.
Although Bailey was deemed mentally fit for trial, a psychiatric evaluation revealed she was suffering from severe psychotic symptoms at the time and could not fully grasp the criminal nature of her actions, leading to her insanity defense.
The child was hospitalized for a short period following the incident but fortunately did not suffer any life-threatening injuries.