Mother charged with murder following infant's death in newton

NEWTON, NC—Megan Stack Sattizahn, a 39-year-old resident of Newton, has been arrested and charged with the murder of her 9-month-old daughter, Samantha Sattizahn. The arrest followed a tragic discovery by the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office.

Early on the morning of July 12, 2024, deputies responded to a report of a suspicious person near Section House Rd. They encountered a disoriented adult female, later identified as Sattizahn, who led them to her residence on Tanglewood Dr. Inside, they discovered the deceased infant, establishing a direct connection to the suspect.

Following the incident, the Criminal Investigations Division of the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office launched an investigation, suspecting foul play. Sattizahn has since been held at the Catawba County Detention Facility without bond and is scheduled for a first appearance in Catawba County District Court on July 22, 2024.

Further details await the results of an autopsy, while Sattizahn has been admitted to a local hospital under observation. The Sheriff’s Office, in collaboration with the District Attorney’s Office, continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death. Authorities urge anyone with information about the case to contact the Sheriff’s Investigators at 828-465-8340.

Shore News Network Staff Report Latest posts

Shore News Network Staff Report is the official newsroom byline used by Shore News Network when a story is produced through the collaborative work of multiple members of the editorial team rather than a single reporter.

This newsroom account is reserved for articles that involve contributions from multiple journalists, editors, photographers, researchers, or news desk staff. It is also used for developing stories that are updated as new verified information becomes available, as well as for community announcements, weather coverage, public safety alerts, election results, and other newsroom-produced content.

Every article published under the Shore News Network Staff Report byline is reviewed and edited in accordance with the organization's editorial standards for accuracy, fairness, attribution, and transparency. Information is verified through official government agencies, court records, law enforcement, public documents, direct reporting, interviews, and other reliable primary and secondary sources before publication whenever possible.

The Staff Report account does not use artificial intelligence to independently generate news or publish unverified information. AI-assisted tools may occasionally be used for editorial support tasks such as transcription, formatting, grammar review, or workflow efficiency, but all published content is subject to human editorial oversight and approval by Shore News Network's newsroom staff.

As an independently owned digital news organization, Shore News Network is committed to original reporting, public safety journalism, government accountability, local community coverage, and breaking news throughout New Jersey and surrounding regions. Stories published under the Staff Report byline reflect the collective experience and editorial judgment of the Shore News Network newsroom.

Readers who have corrections, additional information, or news tips related to a Staff Report article are encouraged to contact the newsroom at news@shorenewsnetwork.com. Shore News Network welcomes factual corrections and updates as part of its commitment to accurate, transparent journalism.