Lee Erwin Reporting
lerwin@clarksvillenow.com
CLARKSVIILLE, Tenn. – A preliminary hearing was held Thursday, March 27 for Stefany Johnson, the Clarksville mother charged in the death of her seven-month old daughter, Astrid. Johnson was being held without bond and at the hearing Judge Wayne Shelton handed down a $250,000 bond.
Johnson, 24, is facing charges of criminally negligent homicide and simple possession and appeared in court with her attorney Chris Clark. Johnson’s case has been bound over to the Montgomery County Grand Jury. The cause of the child’s death has not been released by authorities.
Johnson listened and occassionall bowed her head, closed her eyes and also wrote down notes as both the prosecution and her attorney questioned Clarksville Police Officers about their involvement with the case.
Clarksville Police reported they responded to a welfare check shortly after 3:30 a.m. on March 7 near Johnson’s home at 1311 Sonja Drive after calls about someone screaming. Police say they found Johnson naked, walking down the street and she appeared to be intoxicated.
When first questioned by police who arrived on the scene, Johnson told them while she was giving her child a bath, “Jesus came down and took her to heaven”. Police said when Johnson was first asked if she was OK, she replied to the officer, “I hope so”.
Clarksville Police Officer Jessica Sims said upon entering the home she found two children, the infant and a young boy unconscious on a couch. Both of them were unresponsive. Officer Sims said the infant looked in bad shape and she aided the young boy finally waking him up.
Johnson was taken to Gateway Medical Center after the incident and police report much of the time she was cursing, talking incherently and belligerent. Shortly after her arrest Johnson was transported to the Middle Tennessee Mental Health Institute for a mental evaluation.