A Houston woman was arrested Monday following accusations she tried to kill her 4-month-old baby Thursday by smothering the tiny girl with pillows.

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The only thing that apparently saved the infant's life was Meredith Nicole Deen's live-in boyfriend, who heard the baby crying and pulled Deen off the child, according to KPRC-TV.

He told investigators Deen, 20, twice tried to kill the infant and that he saw her put pillows and a blanket over the baby and then sit on her, KPRC reported. He said he pulled Deen off the baby, but that she tried it again later that night.

The boyfriend, who has not been publicly identified, said he heard Deen say, “Why don’t you die? Why are you still alive?” according to court documents.

Deen is also accused of telling witnesses she punched the baby and wanted to throw her against a wall, the news station reported.

Deen’s boyfriend told staff at the couple’s day care center about the incident on Friday and the center called the authorities.

Deen was taken into custody for a mental health evaluation and admitted she struck the baby and tried to kill her, according to court records.

She also said she was sorry for trying to hurt the baby.

Deen is facing felony charges of attempted capital murder.

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Fulton DA Fani Willis (center) with Nathan J. Wade (right), the special prosecutor she hired to manage the Trump case and had a romantic relationship with, at a news conference announcing charges against President-elect Donald Trump and others in Atlanta, Aug. 14, 2023. Georgia’s Supreme Court on Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025, upheld an appeals court's decision to disqualify Willis from the election interference case against Trump and his allies. (Kenny Holston/New York Times)

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