Nebraska Teen Sentenced 35 to 60 Years for Newborn's Murder

Chloe Coplen-Anderson, an 18-year-old from Nebraska, was sentenced to 35 to 60 years in prison after pleading no contest to second-degree murder for killing her newborn son in 2023. Authorities reported that Coplen-Anderson, who hid her pregnancy, gave birth in her bedroom, then used a kitchen knife to fatally wound the infant before hiding the body in a closet. Her parents discovered the situation, with her mother accusing her of harming the baby and her father initially believing the child was stillborn. The investigation revealed multiple stab wounds and a cut throat on the newborn, with the murder weapon later found hidden in Coplen-Anderson's closet. Defense testimony indicated she endured abuse and suffered from mental health issues, and that she became pregnant at age 15 by a 19-year-old, a situation considered statutory sexual assault under Nebraska law. The case highlighted broader issues of trauma, lack of intervention, and the impact of abuse on young offenders.