Megan K. Staude, 28, and her father, Rodney Staude, 67, have each been sentenced to 50 years in prison after they abandoned Megan’s newborn baby along a snowy road in Warren County, leading to the infants death.
It all began on March 8, 2023, when Megan’s coworkers alerted local authorities. They explained that Megan was pregnant for some time, but suddenly she was no longer visibly pregnant—and no baby was seen.
Their concerns were passed on to the Norwalk Police Department, leading to an investigation.
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| Megan Staude in court |
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| Megan Staude's Mugshot |
The very next day, on March 9, 2023, officers — with the help of a cadaver dog named Montana — found a newborn baby’s body in a ditch along Delaware Street, covered in snow.
Police later determined that the baby belonged to Megan and she had given birth few days earlier.
Police also stated that after giving birth, Megan placed the newborn in a box and left him crying for two days. Eventually, she and her father put the baby—who was still alive—into a trash bag and left him in a ditch.
“The baby was discarded in a ditch like trash,” prosecutor Douglas Eichholz told the court during Megan’s trial. “The saddest part about this is Megan knew the options that were available to her. She knew about the Safe Haven law, but she didn’t take advantage of it. That’s what makes this case senseless,” he added.
Both Megan and Rodney were arrested and charged after the investigation.
During the trial, Megan’s defense argued she was still healing from the 2018 death of her mother and had no support system.
Then Megan shifted much of the blame onto her father, saying he was the one who killed the child and she just went along with it.
Megan eventually pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in July, 2025, but she was sentenced on September 22, 2025.
Her father also pleaded guilty to the charges against him on the day of Megan’s sentencing, before learning his own fate.
Both Megan and Rodney will have to serve at least 35 years before they can seek parole.
The baby’s father submitted a victim impact statement that was read aloud in court during Megan’s sentencing:
“I hope you get what you deserve. I’m totally and emotionally broken for what you did to our son who was a baby. Who does that to an innocent child?”
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| Rodney Staude in court |
Neighbors and coworkers expressed horror but little surprise. One neighbor, Chris Hentschel, told CBS affiliate KCCI:
“Honestly, I was pretty appalled. Not really surprised though, just cause the vibe they gave. They were kinda weird,” said Hentschel.
The home where Megan gave birth has since been declared unsafe to occupy, with boarded windows and warning signs, as per Law&Crime.
Norwalk Police Chief Greg Staples described the case as both “difficult” and “emotional” for investigators. He credited officers for quickly solving the case and emphasized the importance of Iowa’s Safe Haven laws
“Safe Haven laws are there for a reason. It is a shame that because the Safe Haven laws weren’t used in this case we have the death of a newborn and two people in jail charged with the most serious crime that there is,” said the Police Chief.
Iowa’s Safe Haven Act allows parents — or someone with their permission — to safely give up custody of babies up to 90 days old without facing charges. Parents can even call 911 and hand over the child to first responders, as per KCCI.
Police Chief Staples said he hopes this heartbreaking case will save another baby’s life.
“If there’s one thing good that comes out of this, it’s that someone pregnant out there will see this story, and their baby will have a life to live unlike this baby,” he said.
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