By Shereen Siewert
MARSHFIELD, Wis. — The mother of a newborn child whose body was discovered wrapped inside a tied plastic bag and stowed in a vehicle is facing homicide charges in connection with the baby’s death.
The newborn’s mother, 22-year-old Marylinn Feher, faces charges of first-degree intentional homicide and child neglect causing death.
The child’s father, 19-year-old Allen Rice, is not charged with homicide but instead faces charges of child neglect leading to death, as well as obstructing an officer.
The charges were filed June 3 in Wood County Circuit Court, nearly two months after the child was found dead. In a news release, sheriff’s officials said they were called at 10:11 a.m. on April 6 to Marshfield Medical Center for a report of a possible missing newborn child. Officers searched the parking lot and discovered the child, whose body had been wrapped in a bath towel and placed inside the plastic bag, inside the rear cargo area of a vehicle. The couple arrived at the hospital at about 2 a.m., allegedly leaving the baby in the vehicle.
The child was pronounced dead about six hours after being discovered.
Feher admitted in court on Monday she strangled the baby shortly after birth, which was also revealed in autopsy reports. Feher also admitted to striking the baby’s head on a toilet multiple times.
Feher is jailed on a $1 million cash bond with an arraignment set for June 12. Rice is being held on a $35,000 cash bond, according to court records.
