HANNA ZILLMAN - 2 Months (2010) - Tulsa OK

Lisa Zillman, a 24-year-old Oklahoma woman was charged with murder Tuesday after she allegedly got doped up on Xanax and whiskey before deciding to take a bath with her baby daughter. The baby was later found floating dead in the bath tub.

According to Tulsa County prosecutors, Zillman was under the influence of Xanax and whiskey Sept. 29th when she reportedly decided to take a bath with her 2-month-old baby.

The child's father became suspicious after 20 minutes had passed without hearing any noise coming from inside the bathroom. Since the door was locked, he was forced to pry open the door using a butter knife.

Inside the bathroom, Zillman was initially found sleeping, but woke up when the father started shouting her name. The child, who's name is Hanna, was found unresponsive inside the bathtub.

A plastic bathing chair was also found in the bathtub.

Paramedics that were called to the residence were unable to revive the child. She was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.

Zillman was booked into the Tulsa County Jail on a charge of second-degree murder. Bond has been set for $500,000.

Mother accused of drowning baby in bathtub
Prosecutors say 25-year-old Lisa Zillman was under the influence of medication and alcohol when she took a bath with her one-month old daughter.

Police say she passed out and slumped over the child in late September.

She faces a second-degree murder charge and will stand trial.

http://www.kjrh.com/dpp/news/local_news/mother-accused-of-drowning--baby-in-bathtub

Woman sentenced in baby death

Her weeks-old daughter drowned in a tub because of her negligence.By BILL BRAUN World Staff Writer
Published: 3/22/2011 2:37 AM
Last Modified: 3/22/2011 6:18 AM

A Tulsa woman was sentenced Monday to four years in prison on a manslaughter charge stemming from the bathtub drowning of her infant daughter.

Tulsa County prosecutors initially charged Lisa Zillman with second-degree murder based on a contention that while she was under the influence of medication and alcohol Sept. 29, she took a bath with her baby, Hannah Zillman, at their apartment at 10051 S. Sheridan Road.

The murder charge contained an accusation that Zillman, 25, was neglectful and failed to provide adequate care or supervision for Hannah when she was responsible for the baby's safety.

Zillman pleaded guilty Monday to an amended charge of second-degree manslaughter. District Judge Tom Gillert sentenced her to a four-year prison term in accordance with a plea deal.

Hannah, who was born Aug. 9, was not yet 2 months old when she died. A medical examiner listed the probable cause of death as drowning and classified the manner of death as accidental.

Assistant District Attorney Sarah McAmis indicated that Zillman did not intend to kill her baby, but she said the punishment is appropriate.

Second-degree manslaughter involves ''culpable negligence" - an omission to do something that a reasonably careful person would do or failure to use ordinary care and caution.

The amended charge does not require Zillman to serve 85 percent of her term before becoming eligible for parole or release from prison. On her sentence, she receives credit for five months spent in jail.

At a preliminary hearing two months ago, Police Detective Greg Smith testified that when he asked Zillman what happened on Sept. 29, she said she had taken methadone and Xanax.

She also indicated that she prepared a beverage that mixed alcohol and a soft drink, according to Smith.

Defense attorney Kirsten Bernhardt previously said the defendant had been prescribed the medication and that the baby's death was a tragic accident.

Zillman's husband, Jason Zillman testified at the January hearing that his wife had taken Hannah to the bathroom. He said he later hollered and knocked on the locked bathroom door and got no response.

He said he eventually pried open the door and found his wife "slumped over" in the bathtub. He indicated that after he lifted her, he could see Hannah in the water.

Hannah was pronounced dead at a hospital, police said.

Read more from this Tulsa World article at http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20110322_14_A7_CUTLIN773440