Police: Nantucket Mom Charged In Child's Death Said She Heard God

NANTUCKET (AP) - Police say a Nantucket woman accused of killing her 3-year-old daughter told a priest and hospital officials that God told her to push a rose down the girl's throat to ward off the devil.

Documents filed in Nantucket District Court said 26-year-old Dora Alicia Tejada Pleitez said she realized that the "rose" was her fist and the devil bit her through the child.

Tejada Pleitez was held without bail pending a competency hearing after pleading not guilty Tuesday.

Police say emergency personnel responded to the family home Monday after getting a 911 call reporting that the little girl had stopped breathing.

The child, Nicole Garcia, was taken to a hospital where she was pronounced dead.

Tejada Pleitez's lawyer says her mental state will play a "critical role" in the case.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)