LAWRENCE CO.— On Thursday, Lawrence County Superior CourtJudge John Plummer III determined that Brittany Medina is competent to stand trial. Medina faces two counts of murder and two counts of child neglect causing death, following a tragic incident involving her young children. She is currently being held without bail at the Lawrence County Jail.
Medina’s competency had been under scrutiny, prompting evaluations from three doctors. After reviewing their reports, Judge Plummer made the final determination regarding her ability to stand trial. Chief Public Defender Tim Sledd represents her, while Chief Deputy Prosecutor Joshua Scherschel leads the prosecution.
According to reports, Medina had ingested a mix of substances, including Xanax, Suboxone strips, and three lines of cocaine, before the incident. On September 26, her boyfriend, Ryan Shelton, awakened her around 6:30 a.m. Medina claimed to have made breakfast and put on cartoons for her children, three-year-old Jackson and one-year-old Madelyn.
However, her statements took a tragic turn later that day when, around 2:30 p.m., Medina reported hearing voices that urged her to send her children to Heaven or face dire consequences. She believed that failing to act would lead to torture for both herself and her children. Medina admitted to taking both children into the bathroom and submerging them in the bathtub until they stopped moving.
Following the incident, she changed into dry clothes and drove to the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department to report what had occurred. Medina allegedly confessed to killing her children, stating she had drowned them in the bathtub of their home. Detective Michael Ramos was then provided with a key to her residence, where the bodies were discovered.
A jury trial is scheduled for March 5, 2025.
Those facing criminal charges are considered innocent unless convicted through due legal proceedings. Accusations alone do not imply guilt; the judicial system will evaluate the presented evidence to reach a verdict.
