Teen girl was just 16 when she slit her baby boy’s throat down to the windpipe hours after giving birth, then stabbed him several times before putting his body in a bag of dog food; sentenced

Nebraska – In a deeply disturbing case in Nebraska that caught nationwide attention, an 18-year-old girl, identified as C. Anderson, has been sentenced to a significant prison term in connection with the tragic death of her newborn son. The teenager was charged as an adult and entered a no-contest plea to second-degree murder last year, acknowledging her responsibility without admitting guilt, as part of a plea agreement.

The chilling events unfolded on November 6, 2023, and authorities were alerted to a gruesome scene in Anderson’s bedroom. Anderson was 16 at the time she murdered her newborn son. Responding officers were called to the scene after her parents discovered the remains of the newborn concealed in a pet food bag under clothes in her closet. The parents discovered the body of the newborn after the family dog rushed to Anderson’s bedroom while she was reportedly out shopping. Anderson’s father’s initial concern that the child might have been stillborn made the situation more confusing. However, the situation escalated when her mother, in a distressed state, informed the responding officers that her daughter had harmed the baby, pointing out visible marks on the infant’s body that suggested violent actions.

Authorities later confirmed that the newborn had suffered multiple stab wounds and had his throat cut down to the windpipe. Further investigations revealed that earlier that day, Anderson had been seen taking a knife from the kitchen drawer. According to reports, Anderson killed her son just hours after giving birth. Upon returning from the store and being confronted by her mother, she admitted to killing the newborn.

Following her arrest, prosecutors decided to charge Anderson as an adult due to the gravity of the crime. The initial charges included premeditated first-degree murder during the commission of felony child abuse, with the use of a deadly weapon. However, these were later amended to second-degree murder as part of a plea agreement that saw Anderson pleading no contest. Second-degree murder is defined as causing the death of a person intentionally but without premeditation. This plea acknowledges that while the act was intentional, it was not pre-planned, a distinction that significantly affects the legal outcome.

Throughout court proceedings, Anderson’s attorney argued that she had suffered serious trauma and abuse growing up. He revealed that Anderson had endured family abuse and struggled with post-traumatic stress disorder and major depressive disorder — mental health battles that went untreated as she faced her pregnancy in complete isolation. Anderson was sentenced earlier this week, on Thursday, to 35 to 60 years in prison. She will be at least 51 years old before she even has a chance at freedom. She has already served two years in custody, which will count toward her sentence.

Questions still remain about how Anderson’s pregnancy went unnoticed by her family, why no intervention occurred, and what kinds of support could have prevented such a tragedy. Was Anderson a criminal — or a child in crisis who desperately needed help? As she begins a long and lonely sentence, her story stands as a grim reminder of the dangers of isolation, untreated trauma, and the heavy price paid when young lives slip through the cracks unnoticed.