Tisheena Brown | Homicide Watch DChttp://homicidewatch.org/suspects/tisheena-brown/Latest news about Tisheena Brownen-usFri, 24 Oct 2014 16:26:02 -0400Tisheena Brown Sentenced to Four years in Prison for Death of Newborn Sonhttp://homicidewatch.org/2014/10/24/tisheena-brown-sentenced-to-four-years-in-prison-for-death-of-newborn-son/<p>"The fact that you caused your child's death is as tragic as can be," Judge Lynn Leibovitz told <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/suspects/tisheena-brown/">Tisheena Brown</a> before her sentencing. "A child was vulnerable and didn't deserve to die."</p> <p>Brown, 33, <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/2014/05/07/tisheena-brown-pleads-guilty-to-killing-one-month-old-son/">pleaded</a> guilty to one count of voluntary manslaughter in May for the overdose death of her seven-week-old son <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/victims/hakeem-brown/">Hakeem Brown</a> in September 2013. She also pleaded guilty to insurance fraud. On Friday, Judge Leibovitz sentenced Brown to four years in prison.<br /> <span id="more-25575"></span></p> <p>The infant was <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/2014/01/19/september-death-of-newborn-ruled-homicide-warrant-issued-for-tisheena-brown/">found</a> unconscious and not breathing early in the morning of September 1. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital.</p> <p>"Brown made some choices, some very bad choices," Assistant U.S. Attorney Cynthia Wright argued Friday. "She was addicted to drugs and committed health care fraud." Wright added that Brown's son was dependent on drugs and when the the child was "fussy," Brown intentionally gave him drugs to "calm him down," and he died.</p> <p>Brown's defense attorney Matthew Davies argued that Brown is her own toughest critic and that she has great potential.</p> <p>"No one could be more harder on Mrs. Brown than herself," Davies said. "Brown showed promise in life."</p> <p>Brown, between sobs, addressed the court: "I'm sorry for my actions," she said. "I miss my son and I just want him back."</p> <p><em>A press release from the U.S. Attorney's office is below:</em></p> <blockquote><p>District Woman Sentenced to Four Years in Prison<br /> For Death of Her Infant Son<br /> Defendant Admitted Drug Use, Also Pled Guilty to Insurance Fraud</p> <p> WASHINGTON – Tisheena Louise Brown, 32, of Washington, D.C., was sentenced today to four years in prison on a charge of voluntary manslaughter in the death last year of her seven-week-old son, U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr. announced.</p> <p> In a related matter, Brown was sentenced to three months in prison on a charge of second-degree insurance fraud. That sentence will run concurrently with the manslaughter term.</p> <p> Brown pled guilty to both charges in May 2014 in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. She was sentenced by the Honorable Lynn Leibovitz. Upon completion of her prison term, Brown will be placed on five years of supervised release. Judge Leibovitz ordered that Brown receive mental health treatment and drug treatment while she is incarcerated and then while she is on supervised release.</p> <p> According to a proffer of facts presented at the plea hearing, Brown has a history of prescription drug abuse, which began in 2007 or 2008. Her reported prescription drugs of choice were Percocet (Oxycodone) and Dilaudid (Hydromorphone), both of which are Schedule II controlled prescription drugs. She also used Promethazine (a non-controlled prescription drug).</p> <p> Brown admitted frequenting local hospitals in an effort to unlawfully obtain drug prescriptions (including Oxycodone, Dilaudid, and Promethazine) while using fraudulent identifiers. She would also go to multiple hospitals, using her own name and obtaining prescriptions, which would then be filled and paid by Medicaid. While using her own name, Brown secured prescriptions for drugs without advising the doctor that she had obtained the same prescription on the same date for the same medicine from another doctor and hospital. When purchasing her drugs, she used Medicaid to pay for the drugs. </p> <p> In a four-month period from September 2013 through December of 2013, Brown had over 1,700 pills prescribed to her from a variety of doctors. </p> <p> On Sept. 17, 2013, Brown was at her home in the 2900 block of Akron Place SE. She reported that, around 10:30 p.m., her seven-week old son, Hakeem, was fussy and so she provided him Promethazine, a drug which had been prescribed for her. She provided the infant with this drug even though the label warned that it was not to be administered to children under the age of two. Sometime after 2 a.m., on Sept. 18, 2013, Brown looked over at her son and noticed that he was “blue and wasn’t breathing.” She then called 911. The District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department arrived at her home, where they found the infant unconscious and not breathing. Hakeem was taken by ambulance to a hospital, and pronounced dead at about 3:20 a.m. Brown initially told police the only thing she gave her son was an “over the counter” gas relief medication, which was not true. </p> <p> On Sept. 19, 2013, the District of Columbia’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner conducted an autopsy. The cause of death was ruled a homicide and the manner of death was a lethal dose of Promethazine. In October 2013, the D.C. Office of the Chief Medical Examiner’s Forensic Toxicology Unit determined that the autopsy drug screen was positive for Promethazine. Promethazine, commonly referred to by the brand name Phenergan, is a non-controlled prescription medication which is prescribed for allergy, motion sickness, nausea, vomiting, nighttime sedation, pain relief following surgery, and to help certain narcotic pain relievers work better. It is prescribed with the warning that it should not be used in children younger than two years old because it may cause serious (possibly fatal) slow/shallow breathing.</p> <p> Brown has been in custody since her arrest in January 2014.</p> <p> In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Machen commended the work of the detectives, officers, and others who investigated the case from the Metropolitan Police Department, as well as an agent from the FBI who assisted with investigation of the insurance fraud. He also expressed appreciation to the District of Columbia Office of the Medical Examiner and the District of Columbia Department of Forensic Sciences for assistance in the investigation. Finally, he acknowledged the efforts of those who worked on the case from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Paralegal Specialists Kelly Blakeney and Mia Beamon, Victim/Witness Advocate Marcia Rinker, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Cynthia G. Wright, who prosecuted the case.</p> </blockquote> Imari WilliamsFri, 24 Oct 2014 16:26:02 -0400http://homicidewatch.org/2014/10/24/tisheena-brown-sentenced-to-four-years-in-prison-for-death-of-newborn-son/Hakeem BrownTisheena BrownTisheena Brown Pleads Guilty to Killing One-Month Old Sonhttp://homicidewatch.org/2014/05/07/tisheena-brown-pleads-guilty-to-killing-one-month-old-son/<p><a href="http://homicidewatch.org/suspects/tisheena-brown/">Tisheena Brown</a> plead guilty to one count of voluntary manslaughter in connection to the overdose death of her seven-week-old son <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/victims/hakeem-brown/">Hakeem Brown</a> on Sept. 18, 2013. </p> <p>Brown also plead guilty to second-degree insurance fraud for unlawfully obtaining several drug prescriptions between Oct. 2008 and Sept. 2013. </p> <p>During Wednesday's court hearing, 33-year-old Brown admitted to giving her infant son a lethal dose of Promethazine, a prescription drug she had been abusing since 2008, <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/2014/01/20/tisheena-brown-held-in-prescription-drug-overdose-death-of-infant-son/">according to prosecutors</a>.</p> <p>"It's a very tragic case," said Assistant U.S. Attorney Cynthia Wright, "This baby lost its life because of his mother's serious addiction."<br /> <span id="more-22715"></span><br /> Plea documents say that Brown told police her son was born dependent on Diluadid, which she had been using during her pregnancy, and he suffered from gastric problems. </p> <p>On the night Hakeem Brown died, Brown said she ground up a small amount of Promethazine for him because he "was not keeping his food down and had been fussy," and swallowed the rest. </p> <p>In the early morning hours of September 18, Brown found her son <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/2014/01/19/september-death-of-newborn-ruled-homicide-warrant-issued-for-tisheena-brown/">unconscious and not breathing</a>, documents say. Brown called 911 and he was taken to Children’s National Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.</p> <p>Wright asked the court for a total sentence of four to seven years in prison for the charges, but as part of the plea agreement, Judge Leibovitz may order a shorter sentence. </p> <p>Defense attorney Mathew Davis asked that Brown be released to a halfway house, arguing that the infant's death was an isolated incident and that by pleading guilty, she has shown remorse and interest in paying her debt to society.</p> <p>Judge Leibovitz denied Davis's request and said Brown was a danger to the community.</p> <p>"She has a very serious drug addiction," said Judge Leibovitz, "one of the hardest ones to predict."</p> <p>According to prosecutors, in the months before her arrest, Brown illegally obtained some 1700 pills, including Oxycodone, Diluadid and Promethazine, and paid for them using Medicaid. </p> <p>A sentencing hearing is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on July 18.</p> <p><em>Plea documents will be added to this post.</em></p> Kristian HernandezWed, 07 May 2014 16:38:30 -0400http://homicidewatch.org/2014/05/07/tisheena-brown-pleads-guilty-to-killing-one-month-old-son/Hakeem BrownTisheena BrownTisheena Brown Remains Held Awaiting Trial for Death of Infant Sonhttp://homicidewatch.org/2014/04/25/tisheena-brown-remains-held-awaiting-trial-for-death-of-infant-son/<p><a href="http://homicidewatch.org/suspects/tisheena-brown/">Tisheena Brown</a>, 31, waived her right to a preliminary hearing Friday where prosecutors would have argued there was probable cause that her actions lead the death of her son in September of last year.</p> <p>Judge Lynn Liebovitz listened intently to private arguments from both attorneys for several minutes before ruling not to release Brown.<br /> <span id="more-22486"></span><br /> “No set of conditions would alleviate the danger,” said Liebovitz.</p> <p>On September 18, 2013, <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/2014/01/19/september-death-of-newborn-ruled-homicide-warrant-issued-for-tisheena-brown/">one-month-old Hakeem Brown was found unconscious</a> and not breathing at 2:45 a.m. by Tisheena Brown. Brown brought her son to the hospital, where he later died, according to charging documents.<br /> <!--more--><br /> <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/2014/01/20/tisheena-brown-held-in-prescription-drug-overdose-death-of-infant-son/">Brown told police later that she had given her son a portion of the drug Promethazine</a> because he couldn’t keep food down and was “fussy,” according to charging documents.</p> <p>According to charging documents, Brown admitted to abusing Oxycodone and Hydromorphone, along with using Promethazine since 2008. </p> <p>Brown told police that she did not think the Promethazine would harm the infant because he had been given morphine after his birth due to complications from her drug use during pregnancy, according to charging documents.</p> <p>Defense attorney Matthew Davies argued that Brown is a college graduate with no criminal record and should be released until the trial. She has the support of her family, including her mother, who has custody of Brown’s other child, he said.</p> <p>Assistant US Attorney Cynthia Wright disagreed, saying, “It’s just too risky to let her out into the community.”</p> <p>A felony status hearing is scheduled for April 29 at 9:30 a.m.</p> Dana JenningsFri, 25 Apr 2014 17:17:54 -0400http://homicidewatch.org/2014/04/25/tisheena-brown-remains-held-awaiting-trial-for-death-of-infant-son/Hakeem BrownTisheena BrownTisheena Brown Held in Prescription Drug Overdose Death of Infant Sonhttp://homicidewatch.org/2014/01/20/tisheena-brown-held-in-prescription-drug-overdose-death-of-infant-son/<p>A DC mother accused of killing her son by administering him a prescription anti-nausea drug was ordered held at her court appearance Monday, her first on the charge.</p> <p><a href="http://homicidewatch.org/suspects/tisheena-brown/" >Tisheena Brown</a>, 31, is expected to have a preliminary hearing in the case Friday.</p> <p>In an interview with police, Brown said she gave her son, one-month-old <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/victims/hakeem-brown/" >Hakeem Brown</a>, a portion of a dose of Promethazine when he was "fussy" and wouldn't keep food down.<br /> <span id="more-20590"></span><br /> Hakeem Brown was found unconscious early in the morning of September 18. His mother called 911 and he was taken to Children's National Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. </p> <p>According to charging documents, Tisheena Brown initially told police that she had given the child an over-the-counter gas relief medication. When she was re-interviewed in December, after toxicology tests showed that the baby had died of Promethazine poisoning, Brown said she had ground up a tablet, put some of it on her son's tongue, and taken the rest herself. </p> <p>Police say Brown had a prescription for the medication and she reported that she had taken it consistently since 2008. In charging documents police also reported that Brown abused Oxycodone and Hydromorphone. DC Superior Court did not have a record for Brown of any charges related to drug abuse. </p> <p>A copy of the charging documents is below.</p> <p><script src="//s3.amazonaws.com/s3.documentcloud.org/viewer/loader.js"></script><br /> <script> DV.load("//www.documentcloud.org/documents/1007888-brown-tisheena-charging-documents-jan-2014.js", { width: 450, height: 600, sidebar: false, text: false, container: "#DV-viewer-1007888-brown-tisheena-charging-documents-jan-2014" }); </script></p> <noscript> <a href="http://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/1007888/brown-tisheena-charging-documents-jan-2014.pdf" onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','download','http://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/1007888/brown-tisheena-charging-documents-jan-2014.pdf']);">Brown, Tisheena Charging Documents Jan 2014 (PDF)</a><br /> <br /> <a href="http://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/1007888/brown-tisheena-charging-documents-jan-2014.txt" onclick="javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackEvent','outbound-article','http://s3.documentcloud.org']);">Brown, Tisheena Charging Documents Jan 2014 (Text)</a><br /> </noscript> Laura AmicoMon, 20 Jan 2014 18:19:42 -0500http://homicidewatch.org/2014/01/20/tisheena-brown-held-in-prescription-drug-overdose-death-of-infant-son/Hakeem BrownTisheena BrownSeptember Death of Newborn Ruled Homicide; Warrant Issued for Tisheena Brownhttp://homicidewatch.org/2014/01/19/september-death-of-newborn-ruled-homicide-warrant-issued-for-tisheena-brown/<p><iframe src="http://homicidewatch.org/api/v1/homicides/339.html" width="100%" height="350" frameborder=0></iframe></p> <p><strong>Update: </strong><em><strong>MPD said Sunday night that <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/suspects/tisheena-brown/" >Tisheena Brown</a>, 31, was arrested Sunday on suspicion of first-degree felony murder in connection with this case. </strong></em></p> <p>The September death of a newborn baby in Southeast DC has been ruled a homicide and police have issued an arrest warrant for a 31-year-old woman in connection with the case.</p> <p>Police say the baby, identified as one-month old <a href="http://homicidewatch.org/victims/hakeem-brown/" >Hakeem Brown</a>, was pronounced dead after being found unconscious and not breathing early in the morning of September 1. He was pronounced dead after being taken to a local hospital.</p> <p>An autopsy determined that the child died of promethazine intoxication. Promethazine is an anti-nausea drug.</p> <p>A warrant was issued last week for 31-year-old Tisheena Brown. Police say she's suspected of second-degree murder in connection with the case.<br /> <span id="more-20578"></span></p> <blockquote><p>January 19, 2014</p> <p>Death Ruled Homicide: 2900 Block of Akron Place, Southeast</p> <p>(Washington, DC) – Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Special Victims Unit are investigating a homicide which occurred in the 2900 block of Akron Place, Southeast.</p> <p>On Wednesday, September 1, 2013, at approximately 2:45 am, members from the Sixth District responded to a call for an unconscious infant in the 2900 block of Akron Place, Southeast. Upon arrival, they located an unconscious male infant who was not breathing. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services personnel transported the infant to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The infant’s remains were transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner where an autopsy was performed to determine the Cause and Manner of Death.</p> <p>The decedent has been identified as one-month-old Hakeem Brown of Southeast, Washington, DC.</p> <p>On Friday, January 10, 2014, a member of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled the Cause of Death to be Promethazine Intoxication and Manner-Homicide.</p> <p>On Thursday, January 16, 2014, a DC Superior Court Arrest Warrant was issued for 31 year-old Tisheena Brown for Second Degree Murder. </p></blockquote> Laura AmicoSun, 19 Jan 2014 10:46:04 -0500http://homicidewatch.org/2014/01/19/september-death-of-newborn-ruled-homicide-warrant-issued-for-tisheena-brown/Hakeem BrownTisheena Brown