The Tragic Event That Shocked a Community
In a case that highlights the devastating consequences of untreated serious mental illness, a young mother's schizophrenia led to the tragic death of her three-year-old son after she pushed him on a park swing for 44 consecutive hours.
Romechia Simms was just 24 years old when her untreated condition drove her to commit this devastating act at La Plata park in South Maryland, USA, in May 2015.
How Mental Illness Distorted Reality
Phil Macleod, a mental health expert and founder of Thought Reader, provided insight into how Simms's perception of reality could have been completely altered by her condition. "Schizophrenia is not just a difficult illness; it's a condition that can completely alter a person's sense of what is real," Macleod explained.
The Charles County Sheriff's Office investigation revealed that Simms had begun pushing her son, Ji'Aire Donnell Lee, on the swing at approximately 11:15 am on May 2, 2015. Police were only alerted to the scene by a concerned member of the public after the pair had been at the park for an extended period.
Tragically, authorities confirmed that Ji'Aire was alive when first placed on the swing but died two days later from dehydration and hypothermia as overnight temperatures dropped to around 10°C. The post-mortem examination confirmed these causes of death.
Aftermath and Calls for Better Mental Health Support
In 2016, Simms avoided a prison sentence after a court-appointed forensic psychologist determined she could not be held criminally responsible due to her schizophrenia. She instead entered an Alford plea - acknowledging sufficient evidence for conviction without admitting guilt - and was ordered to maintain her medication regime and attend psychiatric appointments.
The child's grandmother, Vontasha Simms, established a charity in Ji'Aire's memory to raise awareness about the urgent needs of those living with mental illness. "Mental illness touches every family in this country," she wrote on Facebook. "Let's not shun them or look down upon them because it could be you."
Macleod emphasised that schizophrenia requires ongoing care, understanding, and stability. "Without that, the person can easily slip back into confusion and fear, cut off from the world around them," he stated, noting that daily tasks can become insurmountable obstacles for those without proper treatment and support.
This heartbreaking case serves as a painful reminder that mental illness is not a choice or character failure but a serious medical condition requiring compassion, care, and constant support to prevent such devastating outcomes.
