Colorado Mom Sentenced After Strangling Newborn While Husband Was in the Bathroom: “I Didn’t Want Him to Suffer”

A Colorado mother, Anna Englund, has been sentenced to 40 years in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree murder in connection with the death of her 2-month-old son, Miles Basellio, in 2023. The Boulder County District Attorney’s office announced the sentencing following her guilty plea on August 7. As part of the plea agreement, first-degree murder charges were dropped.

“This guilty plea and lengthy sentence is the right result in this very sad case,” District Attorney Michael Dougherty said in a news release. “It is heartbreaking to acknowledge the immense emotional toll on the baby’s father and family, as well as all the police officers who desperately tried to prevent this tragic murder.”

The tragic events unfolded on June 10, 2023, when authorities were called for a welfare check on Englund, who was reportedly experiencing a mental health crisis. Miles’ father had expressed concern about Englund’s mental state and behavior with their infant son. While the father briefly left the room, Englund took the baby and left the home. She drove to a secluded location and strangled the child, according to the release.

An affidavit obtained by The Denver Post revealed that Englund later confessed to killing her son because she “didn’t want him to suffer in life like I have.” She reportedly told authorities that she was worried about the dangers Miles might face in a “crazy” world.

As soon as the authorities were alerted to the missing mother and child, an attempt-to-locate alert was issued to nearby law enforcement agencies. Englund drove around with her deceased child for several hours while law enforcement searched for them. About six hours after the initial welfare check call, Englund was found at a hospital with Miles, who had already passed away. Englund later confessed to police that she had been searching for a place to die by suicide.

Before the tragic incident, Englund had been hospitalized twice for suicidal ideation, according to court records cited by 9 NBC News. Miles’ father mentioned that Englund had been treated at Boulder Community Health but was released after only a few days during both visits. Although she was prescribed medication, Englund reportedly took it only once, claiming it made her feel more suicidal, leading her to refuse further doses.

Despite her documented mental health struggles, a judge ruled Englund competent to stand trial last November. However, she ultimately accepted a plea deal, which resulted in a 40-year sentence. A GoFundMe page was previously created to raise funds for Miles’ funeral.

If you suspect child abuse, you can reach the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child (1-800-422-4453) or visit www.childhelp.org. The hotline is confidential, toll-free, and available 24/7 in over 170 languages.

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, texting “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741741, or going to 988lifeline.org.