The woman seen dropping her young sons into San Francisco Bay pleaded innocent to three counts of murder

Jordan Robertson:

Lashuan Harris, described as mentally ill by family members, kept her head down and held her public defender's hand through most of the brief court hearing. She quietly answered "yes" when the San Francisco Superior Court judge asked if she was willing to waive her right to a speedy preliminary hearing.

Harris, 23, faces three counts of murder with the "special circumstance" of multiple murder. A claim of special circumstances means a murder defendant could be eligible for the death penalty, but San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris said she hasn't yet decided on whether to actually seek such a sentence.

"I've also said I'll always review the facts and compare them to the law before I announce my decision," she said outside court Friday.

Her lawyer, Teresa Caffese, refused to address questions about Harris' mental state, saying only her client was under suicide watch. She's being held without bail.

"It's very, very difficult," Caffese said. "This can't be captured in words right now."

Authorities said Harris, a former nurse's assistant who was living in a homeless shelter, was seen putting her three boys in the bay Wednesday.

The body of Harris' middle son, Taronta Greeley, 2, was recovered late Wednesday about two miles from Pier 7. The other two - Treyshun Harris, 6 and Joshoa Greeley, 16 months - remained missing, but were presumed dead after so many hours in the water.

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