A 39-year-old woman named Megan Stack Sattizahn has been arrested for allegedly killing her 9-month-old daughter, Samantha in Hickory, North Carolina.
Sattizahn reportedly told police that she committed the act because “God told her to.”
According to a press release from the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office, police were called early on the morning of July 19, 2024, about a suspicious person.
When deputies arrived, they found Sattizahn, who appeared “disoriented.” She led them to her home and reportedly said, “Everyone come in, the baby is dead.”
When questioned, she allegedly added, “The baby looks dead,” as deputies discovered her deceased daughter inside the house.
Sattizahn was then taken to a hospital for evaluation. She described the killing as a “mercy killing,” claiming that it was guided by divine instruction.
Further investigation revealed that this was not the first attempt on her daughter’s life. Last December, Sattizahn had allegedly tried to poison Samantha by mixing “crushed up anti-psychotic prescription pills” into her bottle.
The baby had reportedly been lethargic and “doped up,” but no one had reported this incident to the authorities at the time.
In addition to this tragic event, Sattizahn has had previous encounters with the police. In December 2017, she disappeared with her 8-year-old daughter after picking her up from school.
The pair were later found near St. Louis, Missouri, after Sattizahn visited an emergency medical facility.
Sattizahn has been charged with murder, but authorities have not yet released details about how the baby died. She is being held at the Catawba County Detention Facility without bond.
Her first court appearance was on Monday, and she did not enter a plea. Her next court date is set for August 12, 2024.
