Baby's Body Found In Home

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Baby's Body Found In Home

The Clear Lake home of 22-year-old Brittnie Sturzenbecher is where authorities say they found the body of an infant girl.

By Drew Sandholm

Story Created: Jul 30, 2008 at 9:25 PM CST

Story Updated: Jul 31, 2008 at 7:42 PM CST

Law enforcement officers might have found evidence that could connect a young Clear Lake woman to the death of an infant girl.

KSFY has obtained paperwork filed in Deuel County Court, which details a lengthy list of evidence officers took from 22-year-old Brittnie Sturzenbecher's home and car.

Inside, officers came across an infant with placenta. They took 50 other pieces of evidence, including an ultrasound photo, computers, and notebooks. From pieces of carpet to clothing, authorities acquired an array of items covered in blood. Officers also obtained a glass pipe with marijuana.

Sturzenbecher was charged with second-degree murder on Saturday, July 26, 2008.

Right now, she is being held in the Codington County Jail and that's because she was arrested at a Watertown hospital. Her bond has been set at $250,000 cash assurety.

Brittnie Sturzenbecher faces 2nd degree murder charges for the death of her newborn baby.
22-year-old Brittnie Sturzenbecher


Back in Clear Lake, neighbors told KSFY that Sturzenbecher seemed like a nice, quiet girl. Now they're hoping they'll get answers to what happened here sometime soon.

At this time, the infant is being examined by a coroner in Rapid City. Sturzenbecher will make her first appearance in Deuel County Court on Monday, August 4 at 9 a.m. 

Stay with KSFY for the latest on this story.

Do you have a serious issue you'd like investigated?
KSFY's Drew Sandholm can be reached by phone at (605) 373-7372 or by e-mail.


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Monday, Aug 4 at 10:33 PM Prison... wrote ...

She deserves everything she has coming to her. She didn't care enough for this baby to help it. So personally I don't feel we should care for her. She had choices and people to help her out. For christ sake she was living w/ her parents they could have helped.

Monday, Aug 4 at 7:01 PM Stupidity kills... wrote ...

I hope she gets the maximum for this crime if she is found guilty. She could have used a Safe Haven for this child... I think this is horribly disturbing!

Monday, Aug 4 at 1:59 PM your kidding wrote ...

Free bird you may want to do some more reading and get the facts straight on what people want. DR. now has to tell a gal she is killing a person when they go to destroy a humane life (or tissue as you call us)

Monday, Aug 4 at 10:41 AM Tori listen Up wrote ...

i have had postpartum with both my girls but never did i want to kill or give birth alone. and on top of that i'm a singel mother living alone alone alone. she had parents. not an excuse. the world is cruel wake up........ that's nice u want to give her that doubt...is she ur firend? do u have kids? have u thought of doing wha she did? help is out there jst do u knw

Monday, Aug 4 at 10:24 AM Anonymous wrote ...

I wish that people would get the facts...and the accurate facts... before they pass judgment. The ultrasound wasn't even hers, and absolutely marijuana is bad, but what do you say to the thousands of women in this state that smoke cigarettes while pregnant? Nothing! Hopefully this shows young women that they need to be open with their parents. My thoughts and prayers are with the family as they go through this while mourning the loss of a grandchild they never got to know.

Monday, Aug 4 at 8:14 AM Anonymous wrote ...

You get what you put in, and people get what they deserve.

Sunday, Aug 3 at 4:54 PM post partum... wrote ...

post partum doesn't happen that quickly. and even if it were than where was her family? if the baby was alive long enough for the pd to kick it than why didn't they turn in the fact their was a dead baby in the house. and why deliver at home? and why drugs in the room? all of these things show her to be extremely stupid. so why should people pray for her and worry about her. im sorry but i am praying for the baby that was killed becuz of stupidity

Sunday, Aug 3 at 3:26 PM Dear Tori wrote ...

Why would they have arrested her and charged her with MURDER if something just "happened" to the baby?? And who the heck gives birth at home with no help?? It is not Rocket Science, to figure out the need of a dr or some other medical attention, she sure went to get herself some, not the poor child! So I am sorry if i dont feel a bit sorry for her!!

Sunday, Aug 3 at 11:11 AM Mother wrote ...

I cnt believe some of u are trying to excuse her crime for depression how sad. i dnt care wha she had there is help! it's only not out there if u dnt ask or cll for help she gets wha she has coming to her. i have no sympath for her at all! why should we? she killed a innocent baby and took a life that never asked to be brought into this world. dnt forget that ppl. no matter how depressed she was. i get overwhelmed all the time with 3 kids but i'm a mother i never would harm my babies !!!!!!

Saturday, Aug 2 at 3:49 PM Tori wrote ...

Why has no one considered that something happened to the baby and she was scared. Everyone is posting horrible things before they know the facts. She should be kept in our prayers and she needs the help and support of the community. If she did kill her baby it could have been a result of postpardum depression. Do not be so quick to judge. I will be keeping the family in my paryers.

Saturday, Aug 2 at 8:44 AM Anonymous wrote ...

To comment on the misspeller.. This is not being graded. Not everone on here is saying they are perfect. perhaps you should go somewhere else and complain about spelling. Perhaps you need to be reminded of the real reason we are here. There is a dead baby. The police arent holding her becuase they have nothing else better to do. She killed her child. What a horrible crime. Funny, it's always the one that no one ever suspects. always the nice quiet ones. No excuse is acceptible for her actions.

Friday, Aug 1 at 11:06 PM misspeller wrote ...

Wow! So much concerned, caring, literate people, who put thought into what they are saying...where are they? Not posting here! Wish the people posting actually had a valid comment and could spell!

Friday, Aug 1 at 9:44 PM anonymous wrote ...

My thoughts and prayers go out to the family for not only dealing with one loss but for the road they have ahead with their daughter. No one has any right to pass judgement on someone they dont know. I dont know how some of these posts even made the page to be seen. They are suppost to be reviewed and deemed appropriate--75 percent of these are inappropriate.

Friday, Aug 1 at 8:42 PM Steve wrote ...

The Sturzenbecher's are solid people and would never do the things this con of a poster represented. My condolences to them and to the child that was murdered.

Friday, Aug 1 at 7:00 PM Clear Lake resident wrote ...

That was very inapropriate of you to write that. The Sturzenbecher's have been nothing but wonderful neighbors and could not have, would not have done the things you have said. You should be ashamed of yourself for throwing out accusations sitting in front of your computer in your parents basement while in your underwear.

Friday, Aug 1 at 6:36 PM Question wrote ...

I would like to know, Who paid for the Utrasound?

Friday, Aug 1 at 6:25 PM Anon wrote ...

Where do You, Kathleen Smith, get your info from. The parents aren't law breakers, and as far as her mother doing pot with her, Your NUTS! And YES leave the parents OUT of it.

Friday, Aug 1 at 3:32 PM um... wrote ...

two words... PLANED... PARENTHOOD...i guess.. no body has ever told her about that...

Friday, Aug 1 at 3:31 PM free bird wrote ...

Simply removing tissue is not killing. Its legal and it's what the majority of the people beleive to keep legal. Were not making you do it Miss kidding! You have a choice!

Friday, Aug 1 at 1:03 PM your kidding wrote ...

So Sharon Madison what is your story. You say she should of had it killed legally killing is killing don't ya get it. You need to do some soul searching lady. Hope justice is served here.

Friday, Aug 1 at 12:48 PM no name wrote ...

Sorry kathleen smith but you say that the parents have been in trouble with the law???? The parents are not habitual law breakers like you say, they are decent people, leave them out of this, they did nothing wrong here.

Friday, Aug 1 at 11:37 AM d00dwithatude wrote ...

Yeah the baby had to be stillborn, considering she forced herself to have an abortion.

Friday, Aug 1 at 10:00 AM Anonymous wrote ...

Which movie will be out first? This one or the Highmore murder case? Both small town murder mysteries. Hush hush cover up.

Thursday, Jul 31 at 9:24 PM Kathleen Smith wrote ...

I can't believe she would do sumden like this. I knew she got around with lots of guys but didn't think she would do this to her own kid. I know her parents have been in trouble with the law before I guess they didn't tell her what to do in her situation. I know she and her mom smoke the pot most days together.

Thursday, Jul 31 at 9:13 PM marine wrote ...

So Sharon Madison what you are trying to say is the baby's life was causing a mess for the mother and she should have had a doctor murder, I mean kill the baby?

Thursday, Jul 31 at 8:32 PM Anonymous wrote ...

I heard she is/or wants to be a vet tech how the heck is she planning on taking care of animals if she cant even do the right things for humans?? MY thoughts and prayers go out to the family, they did nothing wrong and dont deserve this!!

Thursday, Jul 31 at 8:27 PM JC wrote ...

JESUS IS LORD! REPENT FOR THE END IS NEAR.

Thursday, Jul 31 at 4:24 PM SARAH wrote ...

How dissapointing, and sad. I hope it wasn't purposeful. That's all we can pray for.

Thursday, Jul 31 at 3:21 PM Jess wrote ...

I just hope that this baby was still born and 22 year old Brittni is innocent. This has to be the worst nightmare to the family... my prayers are with the family.

Thursday, Jul 31 at 2:35 PM Sharon Madison wrote ...

What a sad end for both her and her child. If she just would have went to the doctor in the first trimester and had it killed legally she wouldn't be in this mess.

Thursday, Jul 31 at 1:19 PM obviously... wrote ...

Obviously she had no intentions of being a mother/ or even a good mom. Marajuana found in the home? How pathedic...she was pregnant what in the heck was she doing w/ drugs? I hope she gets what she has coming to her. No infant deserves to die because of its own mother.

Thursday, Jul 31 at 10:03 AM why... wrote ...

Why is everyone referring to her as a mother.... mothers don't kill their own kind.

Thursday, Jul 31 at 8:48 AM Anonymous wrote ...

Taxpayers have to foot the bill on this, why all the secrets? Nice quiet girl kills baby. Do I have to wait for the movie to come out?

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