Colo. Grandma Not Guilty in Tot's Murder

Carol Lynn Pappas, center, is comforted by her defense lawyer, James O'Conner, as she is taken out of Arapahoe County Court, Friday, Feb. 23, 2007, in Centennial, Colo. Pappas, a 53-year-old woman who claimed she received spiritual messages from geese before allegedly stabbing her toddler granddaughter to death was found not guilty by reason of insanity Friday. She was ordered to be committed to the state mental health hospital in Pueblo, where officials will decide "when and if she will ever be released," said Kathleen Walsh, spokeswoman for the district attorney. (AP Photo/George Kochaniec Jr., Pool) (George Kochaniec Jr. - AP)

CENTENNIAL, Colo. -- A 53-year-old woman who claimed she received spiritual messages from geese before allegedly stabbing her toddler granddaughter to death was found not guilty by reason of insanity Friday.

A judge ordered Carol Lynn Pappas committed to the state mental health hospital, where officials will decide "when and if she will ever be released," said Kathleen Walsh, spokeswoman for the district attorney.

She faced life in prison if convicted.

Authorities said Pappas called 911 from her son's home Oct. 29, 2005 and said, "I flipped ... the baby was crying and I couldn't handle it."

When police arrived, they found Pappas holding a phone. Both her hands were stained with blood, and an 8-inch knife was found near the body of 21-month-old Madison Pappas. Madison had been stabbed numerous times.

Authorities said Pappas had told her son she had been receiving spiritual advice from geese flying over his house, where she was living.

Court records showed she had been admitted to hospitals for psychiatric care at least six times in 2005, including six weeks before the slaying.