Woman found not guilty by reason of insanity in killing of her young daughter

A Texas woman accused of killing her daughter in October 2022 was found not guilty by reason of insanity, a verdict that will trigger a court-ordered mental evaluation and a follow-up hearing to determine her custody status, court records show.

Melissa Towne, 40, had faced a capital murder charge after prosecutors say she drove to a wooded park in the Tomball area and sliced her daughter’s throat and suffocated her with a trash bag. According to charging documents and statements to investigators, Towne later drove to a hospital and staff found the child’s plastic-wrapped body in Towne’s car in the emergency room parking lot.

Prosecutors and charging papers say Towne told detectives that the child, identified as Nichole Bradshaw-Towne, pleaded "but I've been good" as Towne strangled her and told the child not to fight. Towne allegedly told police she killed the child because she believed the girl was "evil and [she] didn't want to deal with her anymore."

Towne has a documented history of schizophrenia, and neighbors told local television station ABC13 that she had displayed erratic behavior in the past, including arguing with a mailbox and damaging her own vehicle. Child Protective Services told the station it had previous contact with Towne.

At the time of the killing, Nichole’s father, James Bradshaw, had sole legal custody; Towne did not have custody of the child. Towne is a mother of three other children. Court filings also note prior arrests for assault, trespassing and vandalism; authorities set bond at $15 million following her arrest in 2022.

Texas law provides that a finding of not guilty by reason of insanity ends criminal prosecution but allows for civil mental health proceedings. Court records in this case state Towne will be evaluated for her current mental state and that a hearing will be scheduled within 30 days to determine the next steps under the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure.

Family members issued statements at the time of the child's death asking for privacy as they grieved. "Nichole has grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and a father that all loved her dearly and never thought such a tragic event would happen to such an innocent child," the family said. Nichole’s aunt, Amber Bradshaw, said the child "didn't deserve, she had not even had a chance to live. She never hurt anybody. She would step around an ant. She loved animals."

Court officials did not immediately release additional information about the timing or location of the upcoming mental health evaluation or the hearing that will follow. The case underscores the intersection of severe mental illness and the criminal justice system, and the legal avenues available in Texas when a defendant is found legally insane at the time of an alleged offense.