South Carolina mom killed 4-day-old son by putting him in fridge, police say

COLUMBIA, S.C. — A South Carolina mother charged with killing her newborn son by putting him in the refrigerator for several hours was expected to appear before a judge on Tuesday.

Angela Blackwell was expected to have a bond hearing at 2 p.m. at the Chester County jail, according to Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Robert Sprouse.

Blackwell, 27, was arrested by State Law Enforcement Division agents on Monday on a charge of homicide by child abuse. Deputies say Blackwell was at her home on February 27 when she put her 4-day-old son in the refrigerator and shut the door. After three hours, she took him out and sought medical attention.

First-responders did CPR on the boy and took him to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead, according to an incident report. The boy, William David Blackwell, died from hypothermia with asphyxiation from being placed in the cold, according to Chester County Coroner Terry Tinker.

Authorities haven’t said what they think may have led Blackwell to act as she did, and there was no phone number listed for the home where she and her family live.

According to an online obituary for her infant son, Blackwell has another child. A Facebook profile that appears to belong to Blackwell shows photos of her posing with a toddler and a newborn, posted the day after William’s birth.

If convicted, Blackwell faces a possible life sentence. Sprouse said he didn’t know if she had an attorney.