WARREN COUNTY, Iowa — A Norwalk man charged in the death of his newborn grandson pled guilty to a lesser charge on Monday.

Rodney Staude, 67, and his daughter Megan Staude, 28, were both accused of killing a baby that Megan had given birth to at their family home in Norwalk in 2023. Megan allegedly told investigators that she kept the newborn in a box for several days before she and her father placed the baby, who was still alive, in a trash bag and left the bag in a ditch just south of Norwalk. Several weeks later the baby’s body was discovered.

Rodney was charged with first-degree murder in the case, but in February 2024 was ruled incompetent to stand trial and the case was stayed. In August of this year, a judge ruled that Rodney now had regained a sufficient level of competency, and the case was resumed.

During a status conference for the case on Monday, Rodney pled guilty to second-degree murder. Rodney waived his right to delay sentencing and instead requested to be sentenced during Monday’s hearing. A Warren County judge sentenced Rodney to a maximum of 50 years in prison.

Megan was initially charged with first-degree murder but later pled guilty to the lesser charge of second-degree murder. She faces up to 50 years in prison. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Monday afternoon.