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Megan Staude pleads guilty to lesser charge in newborn son’s death
INDIANOLA, Iowa — A Norwalk woman charged with first-degree murder in the 2023 death of her newborn son has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge.
Judge Charles Sinnard said on Wednesday morning he has accepted a guilty plea from Megan Staude to one count of second-degree murder. She faces up to 50 years in prison for the crime. No sentencing date has been set yet.
The trial previously scheduled to begin July 9th has now been canceled.
Megan Staude, 26, and her father, Rodney Staude, 66, were accused of killing Megan’s newborn after she gave birth at the family’s Norwalk home in February of 2023. Investigators say Megan admitted to putting the baby in a box and didn’t care for him for two days, despite hearing the child crying.
Megan allegedly told police the baby was still alive on February 26, 2023, when she and Rodney put the child in a trash bag. Online court records say Rodney admitted to discarding the bag in a ditch south of Norwalk. The newborn’s remains were discovered on March 9th, a day after an acquaintance to the Staudes tipped Norwalk Police off about the situation.
Rodney Staude is also charged with first-degree murder but his case remains on hold after he was ruled incompetent to stand trial in February of 2024. He is being evaluated and is receiving treatment to restore his competency so he can face the charge against him.
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