Post-partum depression, post-partum psychosis possible defenses for suspect Nalah Jackson
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — New court records filed in the high-profile federal abduction case against Columbus suspect Nalah Jackson suggest she may have suffered from post-partum depression or post-partum psychosis when the Thomas twins were taken in December.
"A complete mental health evaluation is essential to develop mitigation and any mental health defense in the case," wrote Jackson's federal public defender in her request for a postponement of the trial last week. "Defense has been working at identifying an expert with specialization in post-partum depression and post-partum psychosis, which counsel believes may be part of Ms. Jackson's mental health diagnosis."
Jackson's attorney is looking to push back by six months her federal trial for two counts of abductions, which would place it in September or October.
A grand jury indicted Jackson for the December kidnappings of 5-month-old twins Kason and Ky'Air Thomas. Columbus police said the babies were in their car seats while their mother was picking up a Door Dash order in the Shorth North. That's when officers said Jackson jumped into the car and drove off. Ky'Air was found abandoned the next morning in a Dayton Airport parking lot. Kason was found several days later outside of a restaurant in Indianapolis.
Two weeks before the abductions, Dublin police say, Jackson crashed two stolen cars within minutes of each other near Bridge Park. At that scene, several witnesses were heard telling officers that Jackson had told them she was pregnant on video footage captured from body-worn law enforcement cameras.
According to court records, Jackson gave birth last May to a baby who had tested positive for cocaine. Franklin County Children Services took custody of the infant after that delivery.
The Mayo Clinic indicates both post-partum depression and psychosis can last for weeks and even months. While rare, post-partum psychosis can include symptoms of confusion, obsessive thoughts, hallucinations, paranoia and self-harm.
If found guilty, Jackson could face up to 20 years in prison for each abduction count.
Ky'Air Thomas died weeks after he returned home from what the coroner described as being placed face-down on an adult bed.
