NEWTON, NC – Catawba County authorities have detained a woman accused of the shocking murder of her own nine-month-old daughter, an act she purportedly deemed a “mercy killing.” The 39-year-old mother, Megan Stack Sattizahn, is now facing a grave murder charge as investigators delve into the tragic incident.

In the pre-dawn hours of Friday, deputies responded to a peculiar distress call concerning a naked pedestrian roaming the streets. Upon their arrival at approximately 4:54 a.m., they located Sattizahn, who appeared confused and was subsequently trailed to her residence on Tanglewood Drive. The child, Samantha Sattizahn, was found deceased at the home, prompting a rigorous investigation by the Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division, suspecting criminal activity.

After discovering the grim scene, Sattizahn evaded deputies momentarily before being apprehended and undergoing a mental health evaluation at a hospital. A week later, she was charged with murder following the police inquiry into her baby’s death.

The harrowing circumstances surrounding the infant’s demise were outlined in a probable cause affidavit, where Sattizahn confessed to investigators that she committed the disturbing act out of misguided mercy, spurred on by voices she attributed to divine instruction. The document also revealed Sattizahn’s troubling history, including a past attempt to fatally poison the infant in December, yet failed to seek medical care or report the incident.

The coroner’s office will conduct an autopsy to determine the precise cause of Samantha’s death.

This is not Sattizahn’s first encounter with law enforcement under concerning conditions. In 2017, she gained national attention when she disappeared with her then 8-year-old daughter, prompting a multi-state search due to fears for their well-being, given Sattizahn’s previous erratic conduct. They were eventually located safely at a medical services facility near St. Louis, Missouri.

Currently held at Catawba County Detention Center without bond, Sattizahn awaits a court appearance set for July 22. The investigation into the circumstances leading up to her daughter’s death continues as authorities call on the public to come forward with any pertinent information that might aid the case.