WARREN COUNTY, Iowa — The Norwalk woman convicted of killing her newborn baby will be sentenced Monday.

Authorities say Megan Staude gave birth to her son at the family’s home in February of 2023, then placed the baby in a box and didn’t care for him for two days. The child was still alive when investigators say she and her father, Rodney Staude, placed the baby in a bag on February 26, 2023, and Rodney discarded the bag in a ditch south of Norwalk.

The baby’s remains were found on March 9th.

Both Megan Staude and Rodney Staude were initially charged with first-degree murder.

In July, a judge accepted a guilty plea on one count of second-degree murder from Megan Staude. She faces up to 50 years in prison. She is scheduled to be sentenced Monday morning at the Warren County Courthouse in Indianola.

Rodney Staude’s case is on hold. A judge ruled him incompetent to stand trial in February.