Persia Nelson is a killer from New York who was convicted of the murder of her ten month old infant
According to court documents Persia Nelson would place her ten month old infant, Halo Branton, inside of a drainage pipe on the Schenectady campus of General Electric in Hudson New York. The temperature at the time was below freezing
Persia Nelson would be arrested for the murder of Halo
At trial Persia Nelson defense team attempted to put forth a theory that Persia had accidentally dropped the infant
However prosecutors would quickly point out that Persia never attempted to rescue the child nor did she call emergency personnel for assistance
The jury would quickly find Persia Nelson guilty
A judge would sentence Persia Nelson to life in prison with no chance of parole for twenty five years
Persia Nelson Case
A Schenectady County judge sentenced Persia Nelson to 25 years to life in prison Monday after she was convicted of second-degree murder in the death of her infant daughter, Halo Branton, who prosecutors said was left to freeze to death in a drainage pipe on General Electric’s campus.
Nelson, visibly emotional in court, spoke briefly before sentencing, apologizing to family members, first responders, and her daughter.
“Most importantly, I need to apologize to my daughter, Halo,” Nelson said through tears. “I’m sorry I wasn’t being a better mother to you.”
But Judge Matthew Sypniewski rejected Nelson’s characterization of the crime as an accident, saying the jury’s verdict and the facts of the case demanded the maximum sentence.
“This is not a tragic accident,” the judge said, noting that jurors had found Nelson guilty of murder. “You can cry all you want, but I know you’re smart enough to know what you’ve got coming in this case.”
The conviction stems from events on March 10, 2024, when prosecutors said Nelson placed her newborn daughter inside a wet drainage pipe on GE’s Schenectady campus during a cold night.
Surveillance video presented at trial showed Nelson remained at the scene for 28 minutes before walking away, prosecutors said.
“She didn’t just drop the baby in the hole,” Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Christina Tremante told the court. “She stayed there for 28 minutes after, as Halo cried herself to death. And she did nothing during those 28 minutes.”
Prosecutors said Nelson did not seek help, attempt to rescue the child, or alert authorities during that time.
Police later found the infant inside the pipe.
“A baby floating face up in the water, partially stuck under a puddle,” prosecutors said in court. “Her eyes open, staring straight up at them.”
A victim impact statement written by Halo’s paternal grandmother, Courtney Keit, was read aloud in court by Prosecutor Michael Nobles. Keit described the lasting trauma the case has caused her family.
“Every time I watch a movie and someone dies with their eyes open, I think of Halo and the pain and stress they said she went through before finally taking her last breath,” the statement read.
A jury convicted Nelson of second-degree murder in October. On Monday, the judge also sentenced her on a related manslaughter conviction, which will run concurrently.
Nelson will not be eligible for parole until she has served at least 25 years in state prison.
Persia Nelson gets maximum sentence after baby froze to death in GE drainage pipe
Persia Nelson News
Persia Nelson, who was found guilty of killing her 11-month-old baby, was sentenced Monday morning.
Schenectady County Judge Matthew Sypniewski sentenced Nelson to 25 years to life in prison.
A jury in October found the 26-year-old woman guilty of second-degree murder, manslaughter and acting in a manner that would injure a child in the death of Halo Branton in March of 2024.
Authorities found the young child’s body in a utility pipe access tunnel on the General Electric campus in Schenectady.
Prosecutors argued Nelson acted with depraved indifference, showing a reckless disregard for her child’s safety. The defense argued Nelson was intoxicated, disoriented and suffering from cold stress that impaired her judgment.
