Sheridan County Attorney Jamian Simmons has charged a teenage girl with 1st-Degree Murder for allegedly giving birth at home in Gordon on Monday, then stabbing the newborn to death.
Simmons has not released the identity of the 16-year old girl, citing her age and the ongoing investigation, but since the teen was charged as an adult her name is in the public record.
The Sheridan County Court docket lists the girl as Chloe D Coplen Anderson. She’s scheduled to appear in court tomorrow (Thurs, Nov 9) on 2 counts: 1st-Degree Murder and Use of a Weapon to Commit a Felony.
The maximum sentence for 1st-Degree murder, a Class 1A felony, for a minor is life in prison with eligibility for parole after 40 years. The weapon count has a penalty of 1-year to 50-years in prison.
Simmons says in a written release that the case began when Gordon police and EMTs received a call about 6:00 on Nov 6 about a juvenile giving birth at home and an infant who wasn’t breathing.
Simmons declined to say whether first responders tried to administer emergency aid to the infant or whether the newborn was pronounced dead at the scene or at a hospital.
The release says only that after “subsequent investigation, it is believed that a 16 year old female gave birth at home to an infant and is alleged to have intentionally killed the infant by inflicting multiple stab wounds.”
Simmons does say that after receiving necessary medical care, Anderson was taken into custody and that a complaint was filed containing the two adult charges. Simmons says her office will release no further information at this time.
The Gordon Police Department has been assisted in the investigation by the Sheridan County Sheriff’s Office, the Nebraska State Patrol, and the Sheridan County Attorney’s Office.