Texas Babysitter Arrested for Drowning Child During Baptism.
An Indiana woman, Nakia N. Martin, has been charged with capital murder after allegedly drowning a 6-year-old child while babysitting in Texas. The chilling incident took place in Harris County, where Martin was watching the child along with others at a home in the 16000 block of Courtland Circle.
The Tragic Events Leading to the Child's Death
One of the children informed the police that the babysitter submerged their sibling underwater until they became unresponsive. It was reported that the babysitter then lay naked with the lifeless child in the bathtub. The 6-year-old was found the following morning cold to the touch, and despite noticing the child was unresponsive, Martin waited until the next morning to call emergency services.
Nakia Martin's Confession and the Investigation
Upon the arrival of emergency crews, the child was pronounced dead. Martin reportedly confessed to investigators, saying, “I didn’t mean to kill this baby.”
She informed the responding officers that she had given the child a bath around 8 p.m. the previous evening. The next morning, she discovered her 6-year-old with foam coming from the mouth.
She tried to open the child’s mouth but found it shut, and upon noticing the child was cold, she contacted a family member before eventually calling 911.
Further investigation revealed inconsistencies in Martin's story. Police contacted the children's mother, who had traveled back to Indiana. The mother revealed that her children had told her about Martin baptizing them in the tub, holding them underwater, and threatening them with "hell" if they revealed what had happened.
Children Speak Out About Baptism
Both the 8-year-old and the 6-year-old spoke with investigators and described how Martin had placed “blessing oils” on their necks before holding them underwater. The older child even stated, “Something happened, the devil.” The children's mother had also noticed that Martin had been acting strangely, ranting about God and telling the children that “God would show them something.”
Before leaving for Indiana, the children's mother FaceTimed with Martin, seeing all three children alive in the tub.
Autopsy Confirms Cause of Death
An autopsy conducted on February 8, 2024, confirmed that the 6-year-old died from drowning. Following the investigation, Nakia Martin was charged with capital murder on December 6, 2024.
Nakia Martin’s Arrest and Legal Proceedings
Martin is currently being held in Harris County Jail with a bond set at $2 million. If convicted of capital murder, she faces a potential life sentence without parole or even the death penalty.
This tragic case highlights the disturbing manipulation of religious rituals and the extreme actions that led to the child's death. The investigation has shocked the community, with many wondering how such a violation of trust could occur in a babysitting setting.
