Judge orders Ebony Wilkerson to mental hospital

Dec. 23--A Volusia County judge on Tuesday ordered Ebony Wilkerson to a state mental-health hospital, saying the woman who drove her children into the surf in March is still dangerous.

Circuit Judge Leah R. Case had limited options Tuesday: Either give conditional freedom to Wilkerson or commit the South Carolina woman to a state psychiatric hospital.

A time frame for Wilkerson's hospitalization was not set.

But Case requested a report from the Florida Department of Children and Families in six months, or sooner, on Wilkerson's mental status for conditional release, said court spokeswoman Ludmilla Lelis.

Case based her decision on Wilkerson's hospital stays -- not only the one early this year but also a similar episode in 2005.

She found the mother of four was minimalizing her mental issues and is still mentally ill, Lelis added.

Wilkerson asked the judge to rule on her mental state when she pled not guilty to child abuse by reason of insanity last week.

In an agreement, the prosecution, in return, dropped three attempted-murder charges.

Wilkerson's mental state was heavily scrutinized last week.

Defense medical experts all said Wilkerson showed no symptoms of the psychotic break that plagued her when she, while pregnant with a fourth child, drove into the Atlantic Ocean.

Rescuers saved the family in a dramatic moment that was captured on video and drew national attention.

Doctors for Wilkerson tied her two psychotic breaks to hormones from pregnancy.

The prosecution argued tests showed Wilkerson was in denial and that many triggers could cause her to suffer a break in sanity again.

"I understand now that there was no angels, there was no demons ... I know right from wrong," Wilkerson testified on Thursday.

Wilkerson will be held at the Volusia County Branch Jail until she is transferred to the state facility, Lelis said.

mdostis@orlandosentinel.com

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