Oklahoma City Mother Charged with Murder After Falling Asleep with Newborn Twins While 'Drunk,' Killing Son
Brennan Spencer, 33, was arrested by officers with the Oklahoma City Police Department last week and charged with second-degree murder following the 2024 death of her son.
Spencer Fell Asleep After Drinking White Claw Alcoholic Seltzers
According to a copy of the arrest affidavit, Spencer fell asleep with her newborn twins — identified as RK and LK — after a night of drinking. The affidavit noted that Spencer woke up a few hours later with LK in her arms, and RK dead at her feet.
Spencer and the father of the twins, James Kelson, both spoke with police when they arrived at the home on Nov. 2. Kelson told the responding officers that he and Spencer had spent the night splitting a 12-pack of White Claw alcoholic seltzers before he went to bed shortly after midnight.
Spencer and the twins went to bed at the same time, said Kelson, who told the officers that the newborns were "laid in the bassinets at the foot of their bed." At 6:45 a.m., Kelson awoke to find that Spencer and the children were no longer in the bedroom, according to the affidavit.
He told officers that he went to the living room to check on them, at which time he found Spencer laying on the couch holding their daughter while their son lay unresponsive at her feet. Spencer told police that Kelson had directed her to get them more White Claw around midnight, at which point she went to a nearby 7-Eleven but passed out on the couch upon arriving home.
Then, after being read her Miranda rights, Spencer allegedly told police she had been "probably really drunk" when she went to sleep. "I mean, I was drunk enough to just need to pass out," she allegedly told officers.
Bermel wrote in the affidavit that he obtained video from the store, which showed Spencer arriving at 1:23 a.m. and leaving four minutes later with four "tall boy" cans of White Claw.
Medical Examiner Confirmed Cause of Child's Death as 'Asphyxia Due to an Unsafe Sleep Environment'
The medical examiner later determined RK's probable cause of death to be "asphyxia due to an unsafe sleep environment," according to the affidavit. The affidavit also includes the findings of Deputy Chief Child Abuse Examiner Ryan Brown, who said in a maltreatment report that RK "was a victim of neglect" due to Spencer's "level of intoxication" and her altered "awareness levels."
He also said that there would have been a lower risk of being in an unsafe sleep environment and a higher probability of RK still being alive if he had been left in the bassinet that night, according to the affidavit.
Spencer — who has yet to enter a plea — remains in custody after her bail was set at $500,000. She will be in court on Aug. 5 for a preliminary hearing.
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