WARREN COUNTY, Iowa — A Norwalk woman charged in the death of her newborn son in 2023 was sentenced to prison on Monday.

Megan Staude, 28, along with her father, Rodney Staude, 67, were arrested and charged after the body of a newborn was discovered in a ditch just south of Norwalk in 2023. According to court records, Megan told investigators that she had given birth to her son at their family home in Norwalk and had placed the baby in a box. After several days passed, she said she and her father placed the baby, who was still alive, inside a trash bag and left the bag in a ditch.

Megan was initially charged with first-degree murder but pled guilty to second-degree murder in July 2024.

During a sentencing hearing on Monday, a Warren County judge sentenced Megan to a maximum of 50 years in prison.

Shortly before Megan was sentenced, her father Rodney entered a guilty plea to second-degree murder for his role in the death of the newborn during a status conference hearing. Rodney was sentenced during the same conference hearing and also received a maximum of 50 years in prison.