Woman Who Pleaded Guilty To Hanging Child Says She Struggled With Mental Health

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- It was a long day of testimony Wednesday for a woman who pleaded guilty to trying to hang a toddler at her Minneapolis day care.

Nataliia Karia, 43, made the attempted murder plea back in February. She was accused of hanging a 16-month-old boy in November 2016.

Joseph Sabir was dropping off his child when he found the toddler and helped him.

Karia took off in her minivan, hitting a bicyclist and another driver along the way.

She was eventually caught by a group of people as she tried to jump from an overpass.

Karia says she had been struggling with mental health issues leading up to that day.

In court Wednesday, Sabir told a judge that what happened that day was not a reflection of who she was.

He said with treatment and support he does not think Karia poses a risk to the public or her children.

A judge will sentence her at a later date.