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Oklahoma Mother Charged With Second-Degree Murder in Newborn's Death

Prosecutors allege her overnight intoxication created a lethal sleep setting that meets Oklahoma’s second-degree murder criteria.

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Overview

  • Detective Matthew Bermel sent evidence to the Cleveland County DA on June 26 and secured a warrant July 1 before Spencer was arrested by Oklahoma City police on July 9
  • Investigators say Spencer purchased four tallboy cans of White Claw at 1:23 a.m. on Nov. 1 and later admitted she was “probably really drunk” when she fell asleep with her twins
  • The medical examiner ruled RK’s death as asphyxia due to an unsafe sleep environment and a deputy chief child abuse examiner classified the case as neglect
  • Prosecutors argue Spencer’s level of intoxication and altered awareness satisfied the reckless disregard standard for second-degree murder under state law
  • Spencer remains jailed on $500,000 bail and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on August 5