Mom Who Pushed Dead Child in Swing for 2 Days Enters Plea

LA PLATA, MD — The grim story of a mother who kept her toddler son in a playground swing for nearly two days – until the child died of cold and dehydration – has entered a plea.

Authorities found Ji’Aire Lee, 3, dead in a swing being pushed by his mother after residents in the Charles County community reported that the pair seemed to have been in the park for hours on end.

Investigators later determined that Romechia Simms, 25, had been with the boy for 40 hours, even as it rained and temperatures dropped. Prosecutors say the duo went to the park the morning of May 20, 2015; Ji’Aire was found dead about 7 a.m. on May 22.

His mother – who was described as mentally ill by her family and attorney -- was charged with manslaughter, first-degree child abuse and other offenses. Simms’ trial on the criminal counts was scheduled to begin Monday.

Instead, WTOP repots Simms entered an Alford plea to a reduced charge of involuntary manslaughter. The plea means that while Simms doesn’t admit guilt, she acknowledges that there was evidence that would likely have convicted her in the youngster’s death.

The schizophrenic agreed to a series of conditions that allowed her to forego any prison time and she will not be sent to a mental institution.

Simms must continue taking her medication, must see a psychiatrist and is ordered to meet any other conditions set by a court monitor.

The Washington Post obtained a report from psychologist Teresa Grant of the Maryland Office of Forensic Services, who found Simms was competent to stand trial. However, the doctor concluded Simms’ schizophrenia caused her to “lack substantial capacity to appreciate the criminality of her conduct or to conform her behavior to meet the requirements of the law.”

Mental health experts said Simms is not a danger to the public. She has been free on bail since December.