Court move advances felony murder and child abuse case tied to October death
MOBILE COUNTY, AL – An Alabama mother charged in the death of her 14-year-old son appeared in court Monday and waived her right to a preliminary hearing, allowing the case to move forward to a grand jury. Amanda Morgan, 39, faces charges of felony murder and aggravated child abuse after her teenage son was found dead inside the family’s home in Theodore in October.
Morgan’s court appearance marks a procedural step in a case that has drawn scrutiny over allegations of prolonged neglect involving two teenagers with autism. She remains in custody at the Mobile County Jail on a $20,000 bond, with no next court date immediately available.
Details of the child’s death
Mobile County District Attorney Keith Blackwood said the boy died of strangulation after a blanket was wrapped around his neck. According to Blackwood, the teenager had tied the blanket as a cape, describing it as a coping behavior. “That was sort of a comfort mechanism,” Blackwood told local media.
Blackwood characterized the death as accidental but tied it to broader allegations in the case. “[T]here was a long period of alleged neglect that led to these circumstances,” he said. He also clarified the state’s position regarding the homicide charge, stating, “We’re not alleging that Amanda Morgan physically killed her child.”
Investigators have alleged that Morgan left her two children home alone for extended periods, including the night of Oct. 8, when the boy was found dead. Testimony presented during a March hearing indicated the teenagers were often left unsupervised overnight.
Conditions inside the home
The surviving 16-year-old daughter was hospitalized and treated for severe malnutrition following the incident. Authorities also reported that the family’s home lacked basic utilities and sanitation, with no running water or air conditioning and conditions described as infested with insects and human waste.
Following her arrest, Morgan was ordered to have no contact with her surviving child. The case will now be reviewed by a grand jury, which will determine whether to formally indict her on the charges.
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