Mother Who Abandoned Baby Sentenced to 3 Years
By: Blake Long
Updated: March 8, 2013
STARK COUNTY - The Toulon mom who abandoned her baby in a ditch was sentenced Friday to three years in prison. And for the first time, we heard from Kendra Meaker herself.
Meaker will serve 3 years for obstructing justice and 201 days for child endangerment. The two sentences will be served concurrently.
This stems from an incident on September 27th when Meaker left her baby in a rural ditch and reported the baby missing. She eventually confessed.
In court, Meaker said she accepts responsibility and is turning her life around. Now Meaker's family and the baby's father tell us they're ready to move on.
"It is what it is," said Meaker's father, Ken Meaker. "Healing will start. I don't know, I can't really say what I'm feeling."
"I can't change what happened," said Tim Thompson, the baby's father. "I wish I could. I'm just one person. I can't take time back and change everything."
Meaker also told the courtroom she's attending Bible studies. She says she wants to become a counselor and eventually help other troubled moms. Meaker's baby wasn't seriously injured in the incident.
Meaker will serve 3 years for obstructing justice and 201 days for child endangerment. The two sentences will be served concurrently.
This stems from an incident on September 27th when Meaker left her baby in a rural ditch and reported the baby missing. She eventually confessed.
In court, Meaker said she accepts responsibility and is turning her life around. Now Meaker's family and the baby's father tell us they're ready to move on.
"It is what it is," said Meaker's father, Ken Meaker. "Healing will start. I don't know, I can't really say what I'm feeling."
"I can't change what happened," said Tim Thompson, the baby's father. "I wish I could. I'm just one person. I can't take time back and change everything."
Meaker also told the courtroom she's attending Bible studies. She says she wants to become a counselor and eventually help other troubled moms. Meaker's baby wasn't seriously injured in the incident.
