West Plains, MO. – An Ozark County woman has been indicted by a grand jury with second degree murder charges for the death of an infant in 2015. Sondra F. Clark, age 41 of Gainesville, was indicted by an Ozark County Grand Jury on November 3 of this year for the death of an infant identified in court documents as M.P.
According to the probable cause statement, Ozark County 911 responded to a call on August 26, 2015 for an unresponsive 3-month old baby. The child was pronounced deceased later that day and an investigation was opened by the Ozark County Sheriff. The cause of death was determined to be arrhythmia due to hypoxia, or irregular heart beat due to lack of oxygen.
In the investigation, Clark told officers she had been babysitting the infant while she was under the influence of drugs. Clark had fallen asleep with the infant in the same bed later that night. The report states, Clark had, while sleeping, rolled over onto the child, resulting in the death of the infant.
Sondra Clark is being charged with 2nd Degree Murder. If convicted, she could face 10 years to life behind bars.
Those charged with a crime are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
