PHOTO: CATAWBA COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
Megan Stack Sattizahn, 39, has been arrested and charged with murder following the tragic discovery of her deceased infant daughter, Samantha Sattizahn, in Hickory, North Carolina. The Catawba County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest on Friday, July 19, revealing that Sattizahn is currently held without bond at the Catawba County Detention Facility.
The grim sequence of events unfolded when law enforcement responded to a report of a suspicious person near Section House Rd. in Hickory early in the morning. Deputies encountered Sattizahn, whom they described as appearing disoriented, and followed her approximately 0.7 miles to her residence on Tanglewood Dr., as detailed in the sheriff’s office press release.
Upon questioning near her home, Sattizahn allegedly made a chilling statement to deputies. Everyone comes in, the baby is dead.” This prompted deputies to enter the residence where they tragically found 9-month-old Samantha deceased.
The investigation quickly escalated to include the sheriff’s office’s Criminal Investigations Division, the local district attorney’s office, and the medical examiner, all suspecting foul play in Samantha’s death.
The situation took a disturbing turn when, according to the affidavit, Sattizahn reportedly confessed to deputies that she had committed a “mercy killing” on her daughter because “God told her to.” This revelation was accompanied by allegations that Sattizahn had previously attempted to poison Samantha with crushed anti-psychotic prescription pills in December 2023, an incident not reported to authorities at the time.
Sattizahn’s history with law enforcement includes a previous disappearance with her older daughter in 2017, though Catawba County officials confirmed this current case as her only known incident under her current name.
Neighbors, recalling their interactions with Sattizahn and Samantha, expressed shock and disbelief at the news. Brent Hefner, a neighbor, described seeing them together, noting they seemed like a happy family during their interactions. As the legal proceedings unfold, Sattizahn appeared in Catawba County District Court on July 22 without entering a plea. Her attorney, Sean Devereux, declined to comment on the case.
The investigation continues with authorities executing search warrants for Sattizahn’s medical records, writings, and phone records. The community remains shaken by the tragic events, grappling with the loss of young Samantha and the unsettling circumstances surrounding her death. The case underscores the complexities and tragic consequences of severe mental health crises, leaving a community in mourning and seeking answers in the wake of such a devastating loss.
If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
