Mom Strangles 5-Year Old Daughter, Who Pleaded for Her Life

A mother in Tombell, Texas confessed to police that she killed her 5-year old daughter because she was an evil child.

On Monday, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez tweeted an arrest update, identifying the suspect as 37-year-old Melissa White Towne.

“Towne was charged with capital murder of her daughter, Nichole, 5, and was booked into the Harris County Jail,” Gonzalez wrote.

Towne’s bond has been set at $15 million.

“She said she wanted to dispose of the victim, so she decided to take her to a hospital. The defendant stated she wanted to end the victim’s life because she was an evil child and did not want to deal with her any more,” prosecutors said in court.

Prosecutors revealed in court that the 5-year old screamed, “Ive been good” while her mother strangled her.

Towne admitted to officials that she cut her daughter’s throat before strangling her for 30 to 40 minutes.

Melissa said, “I took her to the Spring Creek Park in Tomball on Sunday, made her get down on her knees and cut her neck with a knife. I yelled at her to stop fighting it. I then strangled her when I realized she was still alive.”

Sheriff Gonzalez said, “Towne drove to a hospital emergency room and told workers that she had killed the child. After doctors looked at the child, they found what appeared to be a laceration and possible ligature mark’s on the girl’s neck. The child was pronounced dead at 12:10 p.m.”

Towne’s 5-yr-old daughter was found partially wrapped in plastic and mesh bags, in Towne’s Jeep Cherokee. The child was unresponsive.

She asked hospital staff for a wheelchair because her daughter’s body was hurting, police said.

Deputies searched the park for a sign of a homicide scene, but were not able to find anything. The also discovered that the child was not killed inside the vehicle. A knife was reportedly found in Towne’s pocket when she was patted down by deputies.

A spokesperson with the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services released the following statement: “Child Protective Services is investigating this tragic death alongside law enforcement. The child’s mother, Melissa Towne, does have prior history with CPS, but specific details of CPS investigations are confidential according to law. Ms. Towne has three additional children ranging in age from 2 years old to 18 years old, who are safe and have been living with other family members.”

Towne has a history of homelessness, but authorities have not yet looked into the matter.

Alan Pffar, one of her old neighbors, said he had to call police on her multiple times.

“We always knew she had mental issues. She would have arguments with my mailbox for no reason,” he said, adding that he decided to put up security cameras because of her.

“One time, she was beating up on a car. I didn’t realize it was hers. She was hitting it with a baseball bat,” Pffar said.

People close to the family said that Nichole and her dad, James, lived with his father and stepmother in Magnolia for some time.

Neighbors said they would sometimes take care of the girl.

“He was asking for help, and anytime we could, we would all help,” said a neighbor, who declined to be named. “He loved her. He was the best daddy he could be.”