Tragic Death and Court Verdict
In a Virginia Beach courtroom on January 14, a judge accepted an insanity plea from Leandra Andrade, ruling her not guilty by reason of insanity in the death of her 2-year-old daughter, Lanoix Andrade. The toddler was found dead in August 2022 with toxic levels of Benadryl in her system at a local motel.
Andrade had been charged with aggravated murder and child neglect after authorities discovered the child’s body alongside evidence of medication overdose. Prior to the plea, a second-degree murder charge was dismissed.
Mental Health Findings and Plea Acceptance
A court-ordered psychiatric evaluation in 2024 diagnosed Andrade with several severe mental health conditions, including Major Depressive Disorder with psychotic features, PTSD, and an unspecified eating disorder. These findings were central to the decision to accept her not guilty by reason of insanity plea.
Her attorney described the case as profoundly sad, emphasizing that it defies easy judgment and leaving both sides without what he called “winners.”
Family Response and Next Legal Steps
The child’s father publicly criticized the verdict, calling it a failure of accountability and expressing frustration that a full trial did not take place. Texts alleged to have been sent by Andrade the night of Lanoix’s death hinted at emotional turmoil tied to a custody dispute.
Andrade is scheduled for a conditional release hearing in March 2026, where a judge will determine whether she should be committed to a psychiatric facility for treatment.
