Washington Mother Accused Of Drowning, Killing Her Infant: Police

WASHINGTON, CT — A local woman was charged on a warrant Wednesday with killing her one-month-old baby by submerging him in a brook in June, according to state police.

Sadie Fleming, 27, of Brinsmade Road, is facing two counts, including murder with special circumstances and risk of injury to a child.

An autopsy showed her infant son, Hudson, died due to drowning, and his death was ruled a homicide, according to state police.

The charges stem from an incident on June 8, when police received a 911 call from a member of the household reporting both Sadie and Hudson were missing.

The caller reported waking up to find both mother and son gone, and the front door open.

The person told police Sadie had been hearing voices and had mentioned people were “out to get her,” an arrest warrant affidavit shows.

Police determined Sadie’s car was still there, so Sadie must have left on foot. They issued a Silver Alert in an effort to find them.

A witness later spotted Sadie walking alone on a road. Police arrived and found her with soaking wet clothing, documents show.

Police said her mental state appeared to be “altered,” and when police asked her about the baby, she responded, “What baby?”

She appeared paranoid and panicked and didn’t know her own name, according to police. Sadie became unresponsive, but she was resuscitated and taken to a hospital, where she recovered.

Fire department personnel found the baby in nearby Mallory Brook. He had no pulse and was unresponsive, and he was pronounced dead at the hospital, the warrant shows.

Family members told police Sadie has had psychiatric issues since 2019, including hearing voices and self-harm, and she has previously been hospitalized because of it.

Before Sadie was informed of the baby’s death, she seemed aware of it and said, “He’s gone, I’ve lost him,” the warrant shows.

When police interviewed Sadie, she told them she recalled waking up. She reported that she thought people were chasing after her and trying to kill her, and she was trying to get away, according to the warrant.

Police said she had previously expressed concerns about an investigation by the state Department of Children and Families, and that the baby would be taken away from her, court documents show.

Fleming was arraigned in court Wednesday, and she is being held on a $5 million bond.

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