Mom Was Accused of Drowning Toddler and then Coldly Telling Girl’s Dad What Happened: Why Wasn’t She Convicted?

A Georgia mother faced with the tragic death of her 1-year-old daughter has been acquitted due to reasons of insanity, raising questions about the judicial system and mental health. Asia Calabrese-Lewis was accused of drowning her toddler, Nirvana Oliver, in May 2022, but has been declared not guilty by reason of insanity by a judge in Fulton County Superior Court, as revealed by court records obtained by PEOPLE.

The court’s decision to drop the murder and child cruelty charges against Calabrese-Lewis was based on her mental health condition. The filing from the court cited her diagnosis of Bipolar I Disorder with mania and psychotic features, as well as a history of depression throughout her life. While the judge acknowledged that she was competent to stand trial, it was determined that she lacked the mental capacity to differentiate between right and wrong at the time of the incident.

Calabrese-Lewis, who is currently receiving mental health treatment in Fulton County Jail, was also ordered to undergo evaluation by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities to assess her current mental state. The tragic series of events unfolded on May 11, 2023, when police responded to a distress call involving a distraught Calabrese-Lewis at an office complex parking deck in Sandy Springs.

Upon the arrival of the child’s father, Calabrese-Lewis callously informed him that their baby was deceased in a pool, leading to a frantic search for the toddler. Ultimately, Nirvana Oliver was found in a nearby pond and was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital. Surveillance footage captured Calabrese-Lewis and her daughter at a retention pond before the tragic incident, with the mother later seen walking away alone and naked.

The day before the incident, there had been a welfare check on Calabrese-Lewis and her daughter due to suspicions of child abuse, but no charges were brought at that time. The Georgia Division of Family & Children Services was notified following the incident, shedding light on a potential missed opportunity to intervene before the tragedy occurred. Nirvana was just a month shy of her 2nd birthday when she tragically passed away.

The family of the young victim, including her grandfather Kenneth Oliver, shared heartfelt memories of Nirvana as a bright light who brought joy to everyone she encountered. The case highlights the importance of mental health awareness and support, especially within the legal system when addressing complex cases involving severe mental illness.

The complexities of the case raise concerns about the intersection of mental health and criminal justice, prompting a deeper reflection on how such incidents are handled in society. The tragic loss of young Nirvana Oliver serves as a stark reminder of the critical need for early intervention and support for individuals experiencing mental health challenges to prevent similarly devastating outcomes in the future.