Murder Charge Upgraded Against Sandy Springs Mother In Toddler's Death

SANDY SPRINGS, GA — A felony murder charge against a mother who was accused of killing her 1-year-old daughter, who was found dead Thursday in a Sandy Springs pond, was upgraded to malice murder, police said.

Sandy Springs Police told Patch early Monday charges against Asia Calabrese-Lewis, 24, were set to be amended during court, but 11Alive reported Calabrese-Lewis waived her first court appearance.

Sandy Springs Police Sgt. Matthew McGinnis said he was told she faces malice murder and that the initial charges of first-degree cruelty to children and felony murder had been dropped.

Altering of the charges came at the recommendation of the Fulton County District Attorney's Office, police said.

Nirvana Oliver was found dead in a Concourse Parkway pond Thursday. Officers were responding to a disturbance call, when officers said they found Calabrese-Lewis in the Concourse parking deck "having some type of episode." The father arrived, and after asking about the whereabouts of his daughter, was told by Calabrese-Lewis the baby was dead in a pool, police said.

Oliver was pronounced dead at the Children's Hospital of Atlanta, police said.