The 33-year-old awoke cradling her newborn daughter in her arms and her newborn son at her feet, as reported by the police, after an alleged consumption of a 12-pack of White Claws with her husband and then purchasing four “tall boys.”
A 33-year-old woman from Oklahoma has been charged with causing the death of her 3-month-old baby due to hazardous sleeping circumstances.
Brennan Spencer was apprehended in early July and charged with one count of second-degree murder in connection with the death of her baby child, Rory Kelson, according to documents examined by Law&Crime.
The Oklahoma City Police Department reported that officers responded to a 911 call from a residence in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area at around 7:15 a.m. on November 2, 2024.
According to KFOR, police said that the infant’s father, James Kelson, contacted 911, informing dispatchers that his newborn son was motionless at Spencer’s feet as she rested on the sofa at their residence.
An onsite officer documented in a redacted incident report that, when paramedics transported the baby to the ambulance, the infant seemed to be apneic but was allegedly still warm to the touch, with blood emanating from the face, as reported by The Oklahoman.
Infant Rory was then transported to OU Children’s Hospital, where he was eventually declared deceased.
Investigators determined the cause of death to be “asphyxia resulting from an unsafe sleep environment.” The autopsy allegedly concluded that the infant “was likely situated between the back and bottom cushions of the couch.”
Investigators report that the mother and father ingested alcohol, sharing a 12-pack of White Claw Hard Seltzers the previous night.
Kelson allegedly informed investigators that they placed the couple’s newborn twins in their bassinets at around 1 a.m. before retiring for the night. Spencer purportedly informed the police that she drove to the shop at about midnight to get four more “tall boy” White Claws, at Kelson’s behest, which are available in bigger 19-ounce cans.
Security video acquired by investigators purportedly shows her leaving the business at around 1:30 a.m., prior to her assertion to the police that she came home, sat on the sofa, fell asleep, and had no recollection thereafter.
“I was sufficiently inebriated to require unconsciousness,” she said, as per the document acquired by Law&Crime. Three of the four tall lads were discovered among the refuse. At 6:45 a.m., Kelson awoke to discover that the children were absent from the bedroom, as stated in the affidavit. He informed the investigators that he entered the living room to check on them, where he saw Spencer reclining on the sofa, cradling their daughter, while their son was lifeless at her feet.
KFOR reported that the examiner said, “Due to Brennan’s level of intoxication, her awareness levels were altered,” and noted that “had the child been left in his bassinet,” the probability “of the child still being alive would have been increased.”
Records indicate that Spencer is still in custody in Cleveland County Jail, with her bail set at $500,000 by a judge. Spencer is expected to appear in court again on the morning of August 5.
An obituary states, “Occasionally, the most diminutive aspects occupy the greatest space in your heart,” on the child’s memorial page. “This was evident with Rory; his short life impacted the hearts of his entire family.”
Rory Kelson is survived by a twin sister, Lorelei Kelson, and parents, as stated in the obituary.
