Tacoma mother who admitted to killing son heard voices, prosecutor says

TACOMA, Washington — The Tacoma woman accused of killing her 2-year-old son reported hearing voices around the time of her son's death, Pierce County Prosecutors said Monday.

Aleesha Walker, 28, has been charged with first-degree murder in the boy's death.

Prosecutors said "she acted, at least in part, as directed by (the) voices" when she killed her son.

Walker called 911 on Friday to report that she had killed the boy, police said. The woman told 911 operators she struck the child's head on a dresser and made reference to smothering him, prosecutor's said Monday. Officers arrived shortly thereafter and found the boy lying on the floor with dried blood spots on his face.

"God knows what I did … I’m bad for doing what I did, I did it to the baby, he’s gone," the woman told police, according to prosecutors.

Medics took the boy to Mary Bridge Children's Hospital, and he was pronounced dead shortly after arriving. The Pierce County Medical Examiner said the injuries to the boy's head were not fatal, and he was likely smothered.

Amber Martinez, a longtime friend of Walker's, told KIRO 7 she doesn't believe Walker confessed.

"I don't think she's capable of doing that," Martinez said.

She said the woman she saw in court Monday isn't the friend she's known for nearly 15 years.

"I think he fell asleep and smothered himself in a pillow," Martinez said. "It's logical. That's what happens sometimes.

"I think it was an accident. I don't think she would do that."

KIRO 7 learned that Walker has a criminal history that included convictions for prostitution and assault charges.

Prosecutors said an investigation revealed there had been several referrals to Child Protective Services regarding Walker and her son. A CPS representative told KIRO 7 there was no sign in any reports that Walker posed a danger to her son.

Walker was ordered to undergo a mental health evaluation and therefore did not enter a plea Monday. She is being held without bail pending a competency hearing.

KIRO 7's Kevin McCarty is working on getting more information on the accusations against Walker. Follow him on Twitter for the latest.

We will update this story as more information becomes available.

KIRO