Nashville Mother Charged with Drowning Daughter Suffers Injury in Jail

A Nashville mother, Brandi Elliott, 33, faces first-degree murder charges for allegedly drowning her seven-year-old daughter, Piper, in Drakes Creek, Hendersonville. Elliott is currently held without bond at Sumner County Jail, where she has reportedly sustained a serious injury. The jail has confirmed that the injury was not the result of an attack by another inmate, but details regarding her mental state, including whether she was on suicide watch or self-harmed, remain unclear. Updates on her condition and ability to stand trial have not been disclosed. During her initial court appearance, Elliott expressed that she has struggled with mental health issues, stating, "When my daughter was two, I kind of lost it like I did this time." She became emotional while discussing her husband’s disability, yet both her attorney and state prosecutors opted against a mental evaluation. Elliott has no prior criminal record and previously worked at McDonald's. The tragic incident occurred on July 13, when Elliott allegedly took Piper to a shallow area of the creek and held her underwater, instructing her to be quiet. After the drowning, she reportedly told police that she was having a bad day and felt overwhelmed by her daughter's demands for attention. First responders attempted to revive Piper with CPR, but it was too late. In the wake of this tragedy, Piper's family has begun a memorial along the greenway, aiming to create "Piper’s Pathway." Prosecutors are contemplating the death penalty for Elliott if she is convicted.