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Plant City woman enters not guilty plea in baby's death

 
Published Dec. 5, 2012

TAMPA — Talae Thomas was arraigned Tuesday on charges of first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse.

Her attorney entered a standard plea of not guilty. Her next court date is Jan. 29.

Thomas was arrested Nov. 16, accused of drowning her baby. Authorities say she thought her baby was inhabited by the devil.

At the hospital, Thomas told the doctor and a detective: "My baby died five weeks ago in the hospital. I brought the devil home; mine died in the hospital after they did CPR on him. The baby started talking to me and I knew he was the devil. He was the devil, so I killed him. I drowned the devil that was in my baby," according to a search warrant affidavit.

Thomas' family said last month that she suffered a nervous breakdown nearly four years ago, and had been diagnosed as mentally ill and declared legally disabled.

She had hallucinations, relatives said.