Chevy Chase Mom Accused Of Drowning Infant Incompetent To Stand Trial: Report

CHEVY CHASE, MD — A Chevy Chase mother who was arrested last week and accused of drowning her 3-month-old daughter is currently not competent to stand trial, a Montgomery County District Court judge ruled Monday.

Mackenzie Rose Colgan, 37, was arrested on Dec. 8 after she called Montgomery County police and told them she drowned her infant while bathing the baby, authorities said in a news release. County fire and rescue personnel responded to her home in the 7300 block of Summit Avenue and took the infant to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Investigators took Colgan into custody and charged her with first-degree murder, police said.

During Monday's hearing, Judge Patrick Mays ordered Colgan to be committed to the Maryland Department of Health to receive psychiatric care, MoCo360 reported. A competency hearing to determine if Colgan can stand trial was scheduled for May 27.

According to court documents obtained by The Washington Post, Colgan told detectives that she woke up on the morning of Dec. 8 with a plan to "end everything" by killing her husband, her two children and herself.

After drowning the infant, the Post reported that Colgan walked to a window but decided not to jump. She instead walked downstairs to tell her husband what she had done, Colgan reportedly told investigators.

In court filings reviewed by the Post, Colgan listed her occupation as a "behavioral health therapist." State records show Colgan is a licensed clinical professional counselor.

Days after Colgan’s arrest, Montgomery County Health Officer Dr. Kisha Davis urged new parents and their loved ones to learn the signs of postpartum depression and the less common postpartum psychosis.

"The symptoms of postpartum depression may be mistaken for 'baby blues' but they are more intense and last longer. They may interfere with one’s ability to care for a baby and handle other daily tasks," Davis said. "Symptoms usually develop within a few weeks after giving birth but can begin earlier — during pregnancy or later — up to a year after birth."

Learn more about the symptoms of postpartum depression and where to find help.