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Written by: A. Smith
Published April 22, 2025 @ 3:50 PM ET
Warning: The following story contains information regarding physical violence against children.
Update: A Fulton County judge has found a Sandy Springs woman not guilty in the drowning death of her 1-year-old daughter, ruling her legally insane at the time of the incident.
Asia Calabrese-Lewis faced two counts of murder and one count of first-degree child cruelty following the 2023 death of her daughter, 22-month-old Nirvana Oliver. Last week, the charges were dropped after the court determined she was not criminally responsible due to mental illness.
The case stems from a May 2023 call to police reporting a disturbance near the King and Queen Towers off Concourse Parkway. Officers arrived to find Calabrese-Lewis in the parking deck of 2 Concourse Parkway, reportedly in the midst of a mental episode.
When the child’s father arrived at the scene, he asked where the toddler was. According to police, Calabrese-Lewis told him the baby was “at the bottom of the pool.”
Despite medical efforts, the toddler died after being taken to a nearby hospital.
An arrest warrant later showed that surveillance footage from the area captured Calabrese-Lewis walking her daughter toward a pond. The two were off-camera for about six minutes before the 24-year-old was seen returning alone and naked.
The incident occurred near the family’s home at The Bishop Apartments, located across the street from the pond.
Following her arrest, Calabrese-Lewis’s legal team filed notice that she would pursue a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity, mental illness or intellectual disability.
On April 18, a Fulton County judge sided with her attorneys, ruling her not guilty on all charges due to insanity.
No additional details regarding the court’s findings were made public.
SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. – On Thursday, May 11, 2023, Sandy Springs Police officers responded to a disturbance by Concourse Parkway near the King and Queen Towers office park. They found a 24-year-old mother experiencing a mental health “episode” in the parking area, stating that her deceased infant was at the bottom of the pool.
Officers began searching the water and discovered Asia Calabrese-Lewis’ 22-month-old daughter, Nirvana Oliver, in a shallow area of the retention pond. A Sandy Springs sergeant said the infant was immediately rushed to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, where she passed away after failed attempts to save her life.
FOX 5 News obtained a warrant revealing that some of the incident was captured by security cameras. Video footage showed Calabrese-Lewis walking with the baby to the pond, remaining out of view for six minutes, and walking calmly back into view naked without the child.
The family lived in a nearby apartment, and the baby’s father had arrived on the scene before officers began their search.
“They live in the area, the father showed up, was there with us, asked where the child was, and she responded with something along the lines of at the bottom of the pool,” said Sgt. Matt McGinnis, Sandy Springs Police Department. “It’s the worst part of this job. We all get into policing for a lot of different reasons, and none of them are to handle this type of call.”
Police arrested Calabrese-Lewis, transported her to the Fulton County Jail, and charged her with cruelty to children and felony murder.
She waived her first court appearance scheduled for Monday, May 15, 2023, and remains in jail. This case is currently pending in court.