Mother Takes Plea for Vehicular Manslaughter in Death of 7-Month-Old

By Andrew Michaels , Inacent McKeithan [former] - January 26, 2023
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Suspects | Victims |

A 30-year-old mother from Brooklyn Park accepted a plea offer on Jan. 24 for vehicular manslaughter, resulting in the death of her 7-month-old son in 2022.

Samanda Bradds, also known as Samantha, was accompanied by her grandmother during Tuesday’s hearing as the prosecution and defense attorney Marc Zayon presented a plea of 10 years, suspending all but no more than two years but less than three years, and five years of supervised probation for vehicular manslaughter.

The maximum sentence for this charge is ten years and a $5,000 fine.

According to the prosecution, Bradds and her boyfriend were having an argument on Sept. 23, 2020, around 8:59 p.m. when Bradds left the home with her 7-month-old son, Abel, in tow. Bradds was allegedly driving a 2014 Nissan Sentra at 45 miles per hour in a 25 miles per hour zone with her son on her lap. She then ran a stop sign and crashed into the driver’s side door of a van before hitting several other cars, causing her and her son to be ejected from the vehicle.

The crash occurred on the 1600 block of Church Street.

Both the defendant and her son were taken to Shock Trauma, and her son was pronounced dead a day later at Johns Hopkins Hospital.

During an investigation by the Baltimore Police Department (BPD), Bradds said she was trying to give her son a pacifier when her foot slipped off of the brake. Police learned that there were no skid marks at the scene and that the defendant was not wearing a seatbelt.

A car seat was also found in the vehicle with the upper harness buckled, but the lower harness unbuckled.

Both Bradds and witnesses told police that a white box truck was the cause of the accident; however, it was later ruled out.

“I’m very remorseful, and I do miss my son,” Bradds said, wiping tears away. “There’s nothing worse I can get than not having him.”

Zayon later commended the prosecutor as well as the father of Bradds’ child for their respectful understanding throughout the case.

Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Nicole Barmore concluded the proceedings by sentencing Bradds to 10 years, suspending all but 26 months, and five years of supervised probation, excluding one day of time already served. Bradds must also undergo a substance abuse evaluation, complete mandated therapy, and stay away from the father of her son and his family.