'Mercy killing' of infant discovered after mom found wandering streets led cops to body: Police

Inset: Megan Stack Sattizahn (Catawba County Sheriff’s Office). Background: The home where Sattizahn allegedly killed her 9-month-old daughter (WSOC).

A 39-year-old mother in North Carolina has been arrested for allegedly killing her 9-month-old baby, telling authorities the infant’s death was a “mercy killing.”

Megan Stack Sattizahn was taken into custody on Friday and charged with one count of murder in connection with the slaying of young Samantha Sattizahn, authorities announced.

According to a news release from the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office, deputies at about 4:54 a.m. on Friday, July 12, responded to a report of a suspicious person who was not wearing any clothing wandering the streets near Section House Road. Upon arriving at the scene, first responders said they encountered an adult female — later identified as Sattizahn — who “seemed disoriented.”

The woman fled on foot, running away from the deputies who followed her back to her residence in the 1700 block of Tanglewood Drive.

“When deputies arrived they discovered a 9-month old infant deceased inside that residence,” the release states. “This infant is the daughter of the adult female in question.”

The Criminal Investigation Division of the sheriff’s office initiated an investigation into Samantha’s death. Following a preliminary investigation, detectives said they suspected “foul play.”

Sattizahn was detained at the scene and transported to a local hospital for a mental health evaluation before she was eventually arrested one week after her daughter’s body was discovered.

A probable cause affidavit obtained by Charlotte, North Carolina, ABC and Telemundo affiliate WSOC provided additional details about the circumstances of Samantha’s death.

According to the report, Sattizahn spoke to detectives and admitted that she killed her daughter, explaining that she believed it was a “mercy killing.”

Additionally, investigators reportedly noted in the complaint that Sattizahn admitted she had previously tried to kill her infant daughter. She allegedly said that she attempted to poison the child in December because “God told her to.” She did not seek medical treatment for the child and the incident was not reported.

Samantha’s cause of death will be determined pending an autopsy.

This is not the first time Sattizahn has made national headlines for dangerously erratic behavior. Police in December 2017 said Sattizahn, who at the time was known as Megan Stack, picked up her then-8-year-old daughter from elementary school and vanished. In seeking the public’s assistance in locating the mother-daughter duo, authorities said that they had “serious concern” for their safety, noting that Sattizahn had exhibited “behavioral issues in the past,” Greenville, South Carolina, NBC affiliate WYFF reported .

After being considered missing for several days, the mother and daughter were found after they went to an Emergency Medical Services station just outside of St. Louis, Missouri.

Sattizahn is currently being held in the Catawba County Detention Center without bond. She is scheduled to appear in court July 22.

Authorities emphasized that the investigation into Samantha’s death remains open and are urging anyone with information relevant to the case to contact investigators at 828-465-8340.

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