Minn. Mother Pleads Guilty To Leaving Baby To Die In Woods

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – A woman in southern Minnesota has pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter in connection with the 2001 death of her baby.

Amy Ann Romero was also indicted on first, second and third-degree murder charges, another count of manslaughter, child neglect and endangerment of a child in connection with the incident. All other charges were dropped.

According to a criminal complaint, Romero, known as Amy Aune in 2001, allegedly gave birth to a baby girl at her residence in Jessenland Township when she was 18 or 19 years old. She then brought it out to a nearby wooded area and left her there to die. The residence is about three miles northwest of Henderson, which is near Mankato in southern Minnesota.

Romero was arrested in Missouri following the indictment and waived extradition to Minnesota.

She was sentenced to eight years in prison -- with more than five years in custody and nearly three years on supervised release.