Bond set at $100K for Clark County mom accused in baby’s death at motel

A Clark County mother charged in connection with the death of her newborn baby pleaded not guilty in court Friday.

Shania Delawder, 20, has been charged with involuntary manslaughter. She was indicted earlier this week. A judge set her bond at $100,000.

EARLIER COVERAGE: Newborn baby dies, parents in Clark County Jail

Her newborn son, Liam Lee Spencer, died Oct. 6 after he was found unresponsive in a room at the Drake Motel, 3200 E. National Road in Springfield Twp.

Brian Lee Spencer Jr. pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter on Monday. A grand jury hadn’t indicted Spencer but his attorney called the prosecutor’s office and offered to plead guilty to a bill of information, Clark County Prosecutor Andy Wilson said.

Brian Spencer faces up to 11 years in prison, plus two years for a parole violation. He will be sentenced on Feb. 14 in Clark County Common Pleas Court.

He and Delawder were arrested by deputies on child endangering charges the same day Liam died.

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Those initial charges against both parents were dropped that same month. More evidence was needed to fully present the cases to the grand jury, according to a statement from Wilson released at the time.

The baby died of blunt force trauma, Wilson said.

Brian Spencer still hasn’t provided a full statement to investigators about what happened, Wilson said, but they know Liam was injured between midnight and 1 a.m. and that medical help wasn’t sought for several hours.

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Delawder came to the sheriff’s office for another interview with detectives earlier, according to court records.

“Shania admitted in the interview that she knew her 7-week-old son named Liam Lee Spencer had been severely injured and she did not try to render aide, which resulted in the child’s death, because she was afraid Children’s Services would take him away from her,” the court records say.

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