A tragic incident unfolded in Chevy Chase, Maryland, just outside of Washington, D.C., when a mother and licensed clinical counselor allegedly drowned her three-month-old daughter in a bathtub at their home. The Montgomery County Police Department reported that the mother, 37-year-old Mackenzie R. Colgan, called 911 herself, confessing to the horrifying act.
The emergency call was received shortly after noon on Sunday. First responders arrived at the scene in the 7300 block of Summit Avenue, where they attempted to resuscitate the infant. Despite their efforts, the child was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.
According to the arrest affidavit, Colgan had taken the baby from other family members around 11:40 a.m. that day, stating that she was going to bathe the child. Approximately 20 minutes later, she returned downstairs and informed her husband and the child’s father that their daughter was dead. The father immediately attempted CPR on the infant and instructed Colgan to call 911.
Colgan was taken into custody and interviewed at the police station. During the post-Miranda questioning, she allegedly revealed to detectives that she had woken up that morning with a plan to “end everything.” She confessed to planning to kill her two children and her husband. Colgan detailed how she filled a baby bath with water, placed it in a larger tub, and held the baby’s head under the water until she was certain the child was dead. The infant’s name was not disclosed in the affidavit.
The affidavit further stated that after the act, Colgan intended to jump out of a bedroom window. However, once she reached the ledge, she changed her mind. She then went downstairs and confessed to her husband about the horrifying act she had committed.
Colgan has been charged with first-degree murder and is currently held in the Montgomery County Jail. She is scheduled to undergo a mental health evaluation before her first court appearance. Maryland records confirm that Colgan is a licensed clinical professional counselor.