The mom of a 7-year-old girl facing a first degree murder charge in connection with the child's death admitted to investigators that she drowned her daughter because she wanted "time alone after having a rough day," court documents say. Hendersonville Police were called to Drakes Creek near Sanders Ferry Road on Saturday after authorities were notified that the 7-year-old drowned, according to a press release from the department. Brandi Elliott, 33, told police that she'd left her apartment and sat at the bottom of the stairwell, court documents say.
Her daughter, Piper, not wanting to stay at the residence by herself, refused to leave her mother alone, the documents say, noting that Brandi Elliott took the girl across the street and began to walk the greenway. The woman told police, "Since the victim would not give her what she wanted, time alone, that she would give the victim what she wanted," the documents read. Brandi Elliott had just celebrated her birthday two days before the incident, records show.
Kip Ziemer, a friend of the family, said the mother and daughter visited Elliott's husband, Jon, at a hospital, where he was being treated for a medical issue hours before the girl's drowning death. Jon Elliott remained hospitalized Wednesday, his friends said. He posted about his daughter on social media after learning of her death.
"Piper Elliott is a new angel in Heaven. A beautiful angel was taken before she could begin her journey through life. May the arms of the ange.