Persia Maria Nelson, 26, awaits verdict at end of trial for killing her daughter, by tossing the infant into a shed and she subsequently died of exposure and hypothermia

10-month-old Halo Branton, from Hudson, New York, was found unresponsive underneath drainage pipes on March 10, 2024 on the General Electric campus in Schenectady, NY

Persia Maria Nelson, then 24, is accused of leaving her daughter for dead after an argument with her boyfriend and family

Nelson’s defense attorney argued his client loved her daughter, but made poor decisions because she was intoxicated and dealt with severe weather that nigh

If convicted, Nelson could face 25 years to life on the top charge

Trial has ended for for Persia Nelson, [photo], who was been accused of killing her 10-month-old baby daughter after she got into an argument with her boyfriend and family in March 2024. Jurors will decide if she’s innocent, else convict on murder, manslaughter or negligence

Closing arguments wrapped up Wednesday in the murder trial of a New York mother accused of killing her daughter after she tossed the infant into a shed that drops into the Hudson River river in March 2024.
As the murder trial concluded the jury was left to ponder whether 26-year-old Persia Marie Nelson, acted with depraved indifference. Did she intend to harm or abandon her daughter, or was she reacting under extreme conditions, lost, disoriented, scared, and trying to survive when she left, Halo Branton her 10-month-old daughter to die of exposure and hypothermia, on March 10, 2024?
Nelson was charged with second-degree murder in the death of her child. Through the trial, her defense attorneys have argued that Nelson’s actions were the tragic product of confusion and crisis, not criminal intent. 
Baby Halo Branton, from Hudson, New York, was found dead underneath drainage pipes on March 10, 2024 on the General Electric campus in Schenectady. 
The helpless baby was found unresponsive. The child later died in a hospital reportedly, from exposure and hypothermia.
Nelson, now 26, appeared in court in Schenectady on Wednesday October 15, dressed in a white top and black blazer as closing arguments concluded in her murder trial. 

10-month-old Halo Branton, [photo], from Hudson, New York, was found dead on March 10, 2024, after her mother, Persia Nelson, left her in a shed that drops into a river, she died from exposure and hypothermia, a court heard

The night Halo was left out with fatal consequences, Persia Nelson had been arguing with her boyfriend Amar SaQuan Branton and other family members, according to evidence presented in court. 
Surveillance video footage shows she was with her daughter on the campus before placing Halo into the shed-like structure that opens to a large drop into shallow water, the prosecution said.
The baby, who was reported missing at 9pm on March 9 by Nelson, was soon found following an amber alert and search of the campus. 
Halo suffered a head wound and was located underneath pipes at the bottom of a hole, which indicated the baby was dropped, the prosecution said. 
‘She stayed there for 28 minutes and walked away carrying nothing after she approached it carrying something,’ Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Christine Tremante said. 
‘Halo Branton was found over 12 hours later at the bottom of that pipe access tunnel. She had no signs of life.’ 
The prosecution also mentioned the condition of Nelson’s clothes that night, which they said showed visible stains from laying on the ground. 

Nelson, 26, who did not take the stand during her trial, appeared in court Wednesday for closing arguments in her murder trial. If convicted, she could face 25 years to life on the top charge. 

They argued she had been laying by the hole Halo was found in as footage showed her by the structure for 30 minutes. 
‘Whether she was crying, or contemplating her decision, or praying, or singing that song to the baby, or whatever she was doing, she had 28 minutes to change her mind from what she did,’ Tremante added. 
Countering, Nelson’s defense attorney Mark Sacco, told the jury that his client loved her daughter, but made poor decisions because she was intoxicated and dealt with severe weather that night. 
Nelson’s Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) was around .14 percent at the hospital, but suggested it was near .18 percent earlier, around the time of Halo’s death, Sacco argued. 
‘She loved this baby, she protected this baby, she did everything she could to protect this baby,’ Sacco told the court. He further argued that because Nelson was the one who reported Halo missing, she did not intend to murder her. 
Sacco then asked the jury to try and place themselves in the mother’s shoes before deciding her fate. 

Nelson did not take the stand in her own defense but her attorney argued that his client loved her child, but made poor decisions because she was intoxicated and dealt with severe weather that night

‘You can’t commit manslaughter when you’re trying to save someone,’ Sacco added. 
Nelson did not take the stand during her trial. Deliberations are underway. 
She is facing several charges, including murder in the second degree, manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide.