Paynesville Woman Pleads Guilty to Murder in the Death of Her Disabled Daughter

(KNSI) – A Paynesville woman has admitted to silencing the alarm on an oxygen-monitoring device and letting her severely disabled child die in June 2020.

Elise Christine Nelson pleaded guilty on Wednesday to second-degree murder in the death of her daughter, 13-year-old Kylie Larson. Nelson’s guilty plea did not come with any agreement on sentencing. She remains free on bond until she returns to Stearns County District Court on January 8th, 2024, to learn her fate.

According to the criminal complaint, Kylie had significant medical issues due to losing oxygen at birth, including spastic quadriparetic cerebral palsy, chronic respiratory failure and a severe developmental delay. Kylie needed 24-hour medical care since birth.

Court records say her husband was on a fishing trip, and her other child was staying at a family friend’s home. Nelson was alone with Kylie between June 18th and 21st, 2020. During that time, investigators say Nelson repeatedly silenced the low oxygen alarm while adjusting the settings for when it would sound. Eventually, the device was taken off of Kylie. According to the complaint, the machine records data as it is used and was in good working order.

On June 21st, 2020, Nelson called 911. Kylie was rushed to the Paynesville Hospital, where she died.

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