Mother Found Not Guilty in Double Homicide By Reason of Insanity

A New Jersey mother who drowned her two young daughters in separate bathtubs has been found not guilty by reason of insanity, with the court ordering her commitment to a psychiatric facility for up to 150 years.

Key Insights

Naomi Elkins, 27, was suffering from severe postpartum psychosis when she drowned her daughters, ages 1 and 3, believing she was eliminating “all the evil in the world.”
Superior Court Judge Guy P. Ryan ruled Elkins not guilty by reason of insanity, committing her to a secure psychiatric hospital for two lifetimes (150 years).
Psychologist testimony revealed Elkins believed she or her husband was the Messiah and that she was a descendant of Hitler or evil entities.
Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer agreed with the insanity ruling, stating it was “not even a close call” based on psychiatric evaluations.
Elkins’ mental health will be periodically evaluated to determine if she remains a danger to herself or others.

A Mother’s Descent Into Psychosis

On June 25, 2024, in Lakewood, New Jersey, Naomi Elkins, a 27-year-old mother, committed an unthinkable act. Suffering from severe postpartum psychosis, she drowned her two daughters, ages 1 and 3, in separate bathtubs. According to court documents, Elkins first stabbed her younger child before drowning her, then proceeded to drown her older daughter in another bathroom. After the horrific acts, she called emergency services herself, telling dispatchers, “I did something to my kids” and “They’re drowning.”

Naomi Elkins, 27, who drowned her 1- and 3-yr-old daughters to "cleanse evil," found not guilty by insanity. Faces 2 life terms in psych hospital. #NaomiElkins #InsanityVerdict #MentalHealth pic.twitter.com/5ZwsxkfWoC

— X Headlines (@XHeadlinec) April 7, 2025

Elkins had been suffering from mental illness since 2018, but her condition significantly worsened after the births of her children. After her second pregnancy, she developed severe delusions about being evil and needing to repent. Police reports indicate that Elkins admitted to drowning her children for “religious reasons,” believing her actions would eliminate evil from the world. During the incident, she reportedly “counted to 50 multiple times” to ensure she held them underwater long enough.

Messianic Delusions and Religious Fixation

During the trial, psychologist Gianni Pirelli provided critical testimony about Elkins’ mental state at the time of the killings. Pirelli stated that Elkins was “undoubtedly psychotic” and suffering from severe postpartum psychosis, a rare but serious mental health condition that can develop after childbirth. The condition manifested in Elkins as extreme religious delusions and beliefs that she had a divine mission to fulfill.

Pirelli further explained that Elkins believed she or her husband was the Messiah and that she was “a descendant of Hitler or evil entities.” These delusions formed the foundation of her distorted belief that killing her children was somehow righteous and necessary. In a letter written after the incident, Elkins expressed conflicted feelings about her actions and her relationship with God, further demonstrating her severe mental disturbance.

Legal Ruling and Psychiatric Commitment

After reviewing extensive psychiatric evaluations and expert testimony, Superior Court Judge Guy P. Ryan ruled that Elkins was not guilty by reason of insanity. The court ordered her commitment to a secure psychiatric hospital for two lifetimes, totaling 150 years. This unusual sentence structure reflects the gravity of the acts while acknowledging her severe mental illness at the time they were committed.

Under the terms of her commitment, Elkins will undergo periodic mental health evaluations to determine if she continues to pose a danger to herself or others. She will remain institutionalized unless medical professionals determine that her condition has improved to the point where she is no longer a threat. The case has drawn attention to the serious nature of postpartum mental health disorders and the legal system’s approach to crimes committed during severe psychotic episodes.