She Allegedly Strangled Her Daughter To Death and Tried To Pin it on Her Son: The Heartbreaking Case of Kristen DePasquale and Her Daughter Mia

A mother in Oviedo, Florida, found herself at the center of a tragic incident that resulted in the death of her young daughter. 

In November 2016, Kristen DePasquale was accused of causing the death of her 1-year-old daughter Mia Rice.

She claimed that after leaving her children—1-year-old Mia and her 2-year-old brother—alone in the living room to take a quick shower, she came back to a horrifying scene.

Mia was found with a string of Halloween lights wrapped tightly around her neck, unresponsive and barely clinging to life. 

DePasquale called 911, but despite efforts to save her, Mia was pronounced dead at the hospital just an hour later. 

Although the initial story appeared to be a tragic accident, inconsistencies in DePasquale's statements soon sparked suspicions. 

This led to a deeper investigation that uncovered a web of lies and unanswered questions.

Kristen DePasquale and Her Daughter Mia

Kristen DePasquale’s personal life had been fraught with difficulties long before that fateful night. 

The young mother was raising her two children on her own, as their father was serving time in prison on unrelated charges. 

This left DePasquale to manage the challenges of single parenthood.

According to those who knew her, raising the kids alone had taken a toll on her mental and emotional well-being.

Despite these challenges, DePasquale was described as a loving mother who cared for her children. 

However, the details surrounding Mia's death painted a different picture from the image of the loving mother she was believed to be.

Mia and her brother

The incident that led to the tragic death of Mia Rice occurred on November 10, 2016. 

According to DePasquale’s initial account, she left her children in the living room to watch television while she took a shower. 

She claimed that she was only gone for a few minutes.

Upon her return, she found Mia on the floor with a string of Halloween-themed pumpkin lights wrapped around her neck. 

She also stated that her 2-year-old son was reportedly apologizing for hurting his sister after she made the discovery.. 

Despite the seemingly innocent explanation, police were immediately suspicious. 

Officers on the scene noted several inconsistencies that cast doubt on DePasquale’s story. 

For one, the bathroom where DePasquale claimed to have taken a shower was completely dry, as were the towels she said she had used. 

Additionally, she was fully dressed with makeup and jewelry on.

This contradicted her statement of having just stepped out of the shower.

This led authorities to suspect that Mia’s death was not an accident but a deliberate act of murder.

As detectives delved deeper into the case, the story that Kristen DePasquale had presented began to fall apart. 

Oviedo Police Detective Christopher George highlighted key inconsistencies, such as the dry bathroom and DePasquale’s appearance when first responders arrived. 

The case blew wide open when the medical examiner ruled Mia's death a homicide by strangulation.

He confimed that the pressure applied to the girl's neck required far more force than a 2-year-old child could generate. 

The examination also indicated that it would have taken several minutes for the strangulation to be fatal.

This suggested an intentional act rather than an accident. 

As a result, DePasquale was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and child neglect. 

Despite the mounting evidence against her, DePasquale maintained her innocence, pleading not guilty to the charges. 

Her defense attorney, Tim Caudill, emphasized that she was devastated by the loss of her child, describing the situation as a tragic accident.

The Legal Battle: From Murder Charges to a Plea Deal

The case against Kristen DePasquale took several twists and turns over the years. 

She was Initially charged with first-degree murder because the evidence against her seemed damning. 

However, the legal process uncovered complexities that ultimately led to a surprising resolution.

In the months after her arrest, DePasquale remained in jail without bond as prosecutors prepared their case. 

But in May 2018, DePasquale was released on bond after serving about 18 months in jail. 

This was due to new findings that cast doubt on the original homicide ruling.

A second medical examination by Dr. Qaiser from Brevard County suggested that Mia’s death could have been accidental, leading the prosecution to reconsider their stance.

This shift in the medical findings prompted a plea deal. 

On November 18, 2019, DePasquale entered a plea of "No Contest" to charges of Aggravated Child Abuse with Great Bodily Harm. 

As a result, the state agreed to drop the first-degree murder charge.

DePasquale was sentenced to time served, followed by 10 years of supervised probation, regular drug testing, and a hefty fine to cover investigative costs. 

A Search for Justice or a Failure of the System?

The outcome of Kristen DePasquale’s case has sparked heated debate over whether justice was truly served. 

On one hand, the prosecution argued that their decision to drop the murder charge was based on new evidence and a legal obligation to pursue only winnable cases. 

On the other hand, critics believe that Mia Rice, a vulnerable 1-year-old, never received the full justice she deserved. 

The court’s decision allowed DePasquale to avoid a potential life sentence.

However, she remains under strict probation conditions, with the threat of re-sentencing hanging over her if she violates any terms. 

As for Mia’s surviving brother, he was placed in the care of relatives.

Hopefully, he can find stability after the traumatic events that took his sister’s life.

Whether Mia’s death was a horrific accident or a crime committed by her own mother, the case leaves behind more questions than answers. 

For Kristen DePasquale, the years ahead will be marked by the shadow of this tragic incident, as she tries to rebuild her life under the close watch of the legal system. 

In another case, a vibrant young woman lost her life during a failed sting operation after being sent undercover without proper training.

See details of that case here.

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