Paynesville Mother Seeks to Withdraw Guilty Plea in Disabled Daughter’s Death

(KNSI) – A Paynesville woman has asked to have her guilty plea pulled prior to sentencing for allegedly letting her severely disabled child die in June 2020.

Elise Christine Nelson was set to appear in Stearns County District Court on Monday to be sentenced on a charge of second-degree murder. She reached a plea deal with prosecutors in October in the death of 13-year-old Kylie Larson. Nelson’s guilty plea did not come with any agreement.

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 stayed 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.

On Friday, January 5th, a new lawyer for Nelson filed a motion to remove the plea. In court records, the 39-year-old claims she was coerced into signing the petition after only having one minute to review it. Nelson says she was in shock when her previous attorney essentially admitted that he did not believe a jury would think she didn’t intentionally cause her daughter’s death. Nelson stated her prior lawyer didn’t discuss possible defenses to the charges, and she wanted to go to trial.

According to prosecutors, both sides will present written arguments to the court for review. The judge will issue his ruling sometime in late February or early March.

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