CAMDENTON, Mo. — A Missouri woman accused of slashing her baby’s throat allegedly told a pastor months ago that she thought she was possessed and might hurt the child.
KYTV report Tuesday that 39-year-old Bradie Simpson of Camden County has been charged with first-degree assault and armed criminal action. She was jailed on $200,000 bond and did not yet have an attorney.
Simpson’s 9-month-old daughter was hospitalized in critical condition. Simpson also was hospitalized with a cut to the throat.
Camden County authorities were called early Saturday to Simpson’s home in a rural area. Her adult son told deputies that Simpson and the baby were missing. Sheriff Dwight Franklin said deputies began searching outside.
A few hours later, deputies found Simpson lying on the ground in the woods, holding the girl who was covered in blood with a deep wound to the neck, Franklin said.
At first, deputies thought the child was dead.
“The baby raised its head, indicated it was still alive,” Franklin said. “A deputy immediately snatched it up, applied pressure to it, covered it up and ran back to the ambulance with it.”
The child had emergency surgery.
“It’s a miracle it’s alive,” Franklin said.
In October, Simpson drove to First Baptist Church of Camdenton and ran through the front door “yelling ‘Take my baby, Take my baby!”’ pastor Bob AuBuchon told KYTV.
“She more or less just tossed her baby into my arms and said, ‘Tie me down! Tie me up!’ and said, ‘Possession! Possession!”’ AuBuchon said.
AuBuchon said Simpson later stopped talking but wrote on a piece of paper, “Do not let me harm the baby.”
The pastor said he prayed with her. When she grabbed the baby back and tried to leave, the church called 911.
“It makes you wonder, ‘Did I do enough?”’ AuBuchon said.
Simpson’s baby was removed by the Missouri Children’s Division that day but was eventually returned to her.
Authorities say they that after finding Simpson and the child, they found heroin inside Simpson’s home.