‘Why don’t you die?’ Woman says as she tries to smother 4-month-old baby, reports say

The only thing that apparently saved the infant's life was Meredith Nicole Deen's live-in boyfriend, who heard the baby crying and pulled Deen off the child, according to KPRC-TV.

He told investigators Deen, 20, twice tried to kill the infant and that he saw her put pillows and a blanket over the baby and then sit on her, KPRC reported. He said he pulled Deen off the baby, but that she tried it again later that night.

The boyfriend, who has not been publicly identified, said he heard Deen say, “Why don’t you die? Why are you still alive?” according to court documents.

Deen is also accused of telling witnesses she punched the baby and wanted to throw her against a wall, the news station reported.

Deen’s boyfriend told staff at the couple’s day care center about the incident on Friday and the center called the authorities.

Deen was taken into custody for a mental health evaluation and admitted she struck the baby and tried to kill her, according to court records.

She also said she was sorry for trying to hurt the baby.

Deen is facing felony charges of attempted capital murder.