A Gainesville woman was arrested Wednesday afternoon and charged with murder after allegedly drowning her 7-month-old.
Tierra Scott-Franklin, a 23-year-old Gainesville resident, called 911 around 12:40 p.m., telling first responders she had drowned her daughter in the bath, according to the arrest report.
Scott-Franklin told Gainesville Police Department officers she had placed the baby on her back in the half-full tub, and the infant’s face was under the water. She then left the bathroom and closed the door, stating she expected the baby to “go,” according to the report.
After she returned to the bathroom five minutes later, Scott-Franklin said she found the victim unresponsive and began chest compressions.
The 7-month-old was pronounced dead at the hospital around 1:30 p.m.
Scott-Franklin is in the middle of a custody battle and told police, “If I can’t have my baby, no one can.”
She also told officers she didn’t regret the action and had begun researching “suffocation” two weeks prior, according to the report.
Scott-Franklin is being charged with first-degree, premeditated murder. In Florida, first-degree murder can result in a sentence of death or life in prison. No bond has been set.
Contact Bailey Diem at bdiem@alligator.org. Follow her on X @BaileyDiem.
Bailey Diem is a journalism junior and the Summer 2025 Engagement Managing Editor. She previously edited for the metro desk and reported for the metro and university desks. In her free time, she enjoys playing guitar or getting lost in a book.
