Cops Say the Mother in Middle Tennessee Who is Being Charged With Child Drowning Just Wanted Time Alone

The mother of a 7-year-old girl who is being charged with first-degree murder in connection with the child’s death told police that she drowned her daughter because she wanted “time alone after having a rough day,” according to court papers.

A press statement from the Hendersonville Police Department says that they were called to Drakes Creek near Sanders Ferry Road on Saturday because someone told them that a 7-year-old had drowned.

Court records show that Brandi Elliott, 33, told cops she had left her apartment and was sitting at the bottom of the stairs.

The papers say that Piper, her daughter, wouldn’t leave her mother alone because she didn’t want to stay at the house by herself. Brandi Elliott took the girl across the street and started to walk on the greenway.

“Since the victim would not give her what she wanted, time alone, that she would give the victim what she wanted,” the woman told police, according to the papers.

Records show that Brandi Elliott had just marked her birthday two days before what happened.

A family friend, Kip Ziemer, said that the mother and daughter went to see Elliott’s husband, Jon, who was getting medical care at the hospital hours before the girl drowned and died.

Friends of Jon Elliott said that he stayed in the hospital on Wednesday.

After hearing that his daughter had died, he wrote about her on social media.

“There’s a new angel in Heaven.” A lovely angel was taken away before she could start her journey through life. May the angels in heaven put their wings around her and lead her through the gates of heaven. Piper, we love and miss you. This is what Jon Elliott wrote on Facebook.

“A tough job”

A counselor in Nashville named Dr. David McMillian has seen cases like Brandi Elliott’s before.

McMillian told The Tennessean that cases involving parents accused of killing their children are more about why the parent hasn’t grown up than about why someone could do such a horrible thing. He said it comes down to controlling your urges.

“You may have wanted to kill your brother or sister when you were a child. Kids feel that way, and all kids are a pain in the behind.” Also, being a parent is hard. McMillian, a psychologist for 40 years, said, “It’s a really hard job.”

While there is no set way to be a parent, McMillian says that a parent who kills their child doesn’t know how to put their kids’ needs ahead of their own.

McMillian said of Brandi Elliott, “She’s just like all of us.” “We’re all capable of doing really bad things.”

Court records show that Brandi Elliott told police that she held her daughter under the water and told her to be quiet.

Records show that Brandi Elliott admitted she had done something wrong and tried to save her daughter’s life with CPR after pulling her out of the water.

It was too late, though.

Piper Elliott was taken to TriStar Hendersonville Medical Center by ambulance on Saturday morning. At that time, she was declared dead.

Helping out the family

Ziemer said he has known the Elliott family for ten years.

He set up a GoFundMe page to help Jon Elliott. After hearing what was said about Brandi Elliott, Ziemer said he still couldn’t believe it.

For now, Ziemer said he visits the Elliott home often to take care of the family dog. He also offered to let Jon Elliott stay with him when he gets out of the hospital.

There was no set date for when the release might happen.

A GoFundMe page set up by Ziemer had raised more than $4,700 by Wednesday afternoon to help a disabled Marine soldier named Jon Elliott.

Ziemer said, “He’s going to need all the help he can get.” He also said that he hoped Jon Elliott could get out of the hospital in time to see his daughter one last time before the funeral.

Brandi Elliott stayed in jail in Sumner County on Wednesday without bond.

On July 29, she is set to show up in Sumner County General Sessions Court.

Police in Hendersonville want anyone who knows anything about the case to call them at 615-822-1111 or Crime Stoppers in Hendersonville at 615-594-4113.