On March 10, 2024, an Amber Alert was issued for an alleged kidnapped child, Halo Branton, of Schenectady, New York, who went missing after 9 p.m. the night before.
The little girl, who was carrying a Minnie Mouse blanket, was said to be wearing white sweatpants with brown and tan flowers, a long-sleeve, light pink shirt with a butterfly design.
Only moments after the Amber Alert was delivered, it was cancelled.
Officers from the Schenectady Police Department found Halo on the grounds of the General Electric headquarters at the bottom of a utility pipe.
The gorgeous hazel-eyed baby was allegedly “dropped” by her mother, Persia Nelson, “down an approximate 10-foot deep pipe access area,” and left there to die.
Mom ‘lost her child’
According to the Mirror, Halo was dropped “into a hole in the ground” filled with mud and water, on an evening where temperatures dipped below zero and bitter winds tore through the city, just north of Albany.
Halo was rushed to Ellis Hospital where life-saving measures were performed. However, the baby was pronounced dead at 1:24 p.m. and an autopsy reveals she died from exposure and hypothermia.
“I’m standing here before you to announce the death of an 11-month-old child. There’s nothing good about that,” said Lieutenant Ryan Macherone, who while speaking with the media about the little baby’s tragic death, struggled to hide his emotions. “I’m saddened to report today that she passed away this afternoon.”
Referring to having to make the heartbreaking announcement, he added, “It’s probably the worst thing that will ever happen (in his career). Most likely.”
News Channel 13 reports that Nelson had been on the GE campus, “and told security she claimed she didn’t know how she got there and that she lost her child.”
Preliminary investigations, which include reviewing video footage of the area, resulted in the 24-year-old mother being charged with second-degree manslaughter.
Nelson, who pleaded not guilty, is being held in custody and scheduled to appear in court on Thursday (March 14).
Reports reveal the woman, from the nearby Columbia County, had only been in Schenectady for a few months and previously stayed at a shelter in Albany County. She has another child, four-year-old Prince, of whom she does not have custody.
Drunken rant
On March 7, Nelson shared a collage of images which shows baby Halo, another young child, and a man, who based on her previous photos, appears to be Dante Gregory, also from Schenectady.
Since then, the mother posted several messages, many that tell a story of her slipping mind.
On the same night Halo went missing, at 10:16 p.m., Nelson shared a disturbing message on Facebook, saying: “I’m drunk asf don’t play with me right now lmfaooo.”
Hours before that message, she shared another that read: “Nah im literally crazy don’t play with it.”
“Crazy enough to kill an innocent baby girl YOUR baby girl. So sad I would have loved her. Those big beautiful eyes she had how could you hurt her?” wrote one netizen who, along with many others, is using their social media as a platform to express their rage over the baby’s death.
The comment continued: “Why didn’t you just let her father have her if you were going to ROB her of her precious innocent life? I will never ever understand.”
“You put yourself first before your baby. You failed as a ‘mother’ a title you don’t deserve to have,” added a second.
Meanwhile, a GoFundMe has been organized by the brother of Amar Branton, the father of baby Halo, and to son Prince, whom he shares with Nelson.
The creator, Easton Gregory, explained: “I am asking for donations to help this young, loving father with funeral expenses and to help him manage – so he is afforded time needed with his son Prince as they grieve the loss of his precious daughter Halo.”
The campaign, that as of March 11 raised almost $6,000 of its $15,000 goal, continued: “Amar is an amazing and loving father who works really hard so his children can thrive…Rest In Peace Halo, you are now an Angel. We will forever love and keep you in our hearts. Until we meet you again, we love you.”
Investigations are ongoing and at the moment, police are unable to provide further information.
