Mother Accused in 5-Year-Old Daughter’s Murder Declines Plea Deal; Trial Expected with Her Children as Witnesses, Authorities Confirm

In a surprising turn of events, a woman facing charges for the murder of her 5-year-old daughter in central New York has decided against accepting a plea bargain, despite her legal team’s previous statements about her willingness to own up to her actions, according to official reports.

Latasha Mott, aged 30, is under indictment for the murder and concealment of her daughter, Nefertiti Harris, who died in 2024. Although it seemed that a resolution was in sight, Mott has opted to reject the plea offer, prolonging the legal proceedings, at least temporarily.

An offer was made by the judge overseeing the case, proposing a prison term of 23 years to life if Mott admitted guilt to charges of second-degree murder and hiding a corpse, as detailed by Syracuse.com. Mott’s legal counsel indicated her readiness to acknowledge her role in her daughter’s demise, yet she is unwilling to concede to a murder charge, asserting that the killing was not intentional.

The incident allegedly occurred on January 6, 2024, when Mott is accused of fatally beating Nefertiti with a belt while the child was in the shower at their Syracuse residence. Reports suggest that Mott, with the assistance of her then-boyfriend, 28-year-old Corrice Parks, subsequently concealed the body in a nearby field.

Nefertiti’s remains were discovered on March 26, 2024.

On the same day Mott declined the plea, Parks accepted responsibility by pleading guilty to charges of concealing a corpse and obstructing justice. According to Syracuse.com, Parks is facing a potential 14-year sentence, with a court date set for February 4.

Mott is scheduled to go to trial on Jan. 20. Two of her children are reportedly expected to be called to testify against her. Her son, who was 10 at the time, may testify that his mother allegedly threatened his life just two months before Nefertiti’s death.

Mott texted Parks that she would “beat the life outta” the boy and that he would have to be dug up, according to a Syracuse police report reviewed by the website.

During the investigation into Nefertiti’s disappearance, detectives reportedly searched Mott’s phone and found chilling results. A detective recounted the search’s results in Onondaga County Court last March: “I believe it was ‘Why do killers hide kids’ bodies?’ and ‘Do bodies smell in the winter?’”

Mott and her attorneys were seeking a manslaughter charge, believing that was more in line with her actions.