UPDATE: A judge sentenced Marissa Fields to 178 months, which is nearly 15 years in prison on October 25, 2016.
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Marissa Carol Fields appeared in the Johnson County Court Tuesday via video conference from jail.
The 19-year-old is now out on bond after being charged with murder in the first-degree and aggravated abandonment of a child.
Prosecutors allege Fields gave birth to a baby inside an Olathe, Kan., home and that Fields subsequently abandoned the baby which resulted in the baby’s death.
Court documents also revealed the baby’s body was found in the garage of the home, when officers arrived on Dec. 26, 2014.
Defense attorney, Carl Cornwell, says that's only part of the story.
"The baby was born at home and the baby died. The prosecution said she didn't do what she was supposed to do. We'll find that out down the road,” said Cornwell.
The Johnson County prosecutor, Steve Howe, says people have options and Fields did not make the correct decision.
“I think it's important that people know that if they are in a difficult situation and they are pregnant but there are other options available to them to give that baby to someone else and let them have a productive life,” said Howe.
The prosecutor is referring to laws that allow people to bring a baby to a hospital or fire station, with no questions asked, as long the child has not been abused.
ORIGINAL STORY |
A woman has been charged with murder in the death of her newborn baby.
Marissa C. Fields is charged with first-degree murder and aggravated abandonment of a child.
The charges stem from an incident that occurred on Dec. 26, 2014, when officers responded to a residence in the 11300 block of South Millview Rd in reference to a possible deceased infant.
At the residence, officers discovered a newborn female infant that was deceased.
The 19-year-old mother, Fields, advised that she had given birth to the child.
The case was investigated and later sent up to the DA’s office for review.
Fields is being held in the Johnson County Jail on a $100,000 bond.
We will update this story with more details as they become available.
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