Parents charged with corpse abuse following death of baby

Felony charges have been formally filed against two Southwest Arkansas residents suspected of improperly disposing of a newborn child that did not survive birth.
According to court records, 20-year-old Matthew Hallmark of Lockesburg has been charged with abuse of a corpse following the death of his baby son in November. The mother, who authorities say is a 17-year-old juvenile, was also charged with a similar offense. She will reportedly be charged as an adult, but until then authorities are declining to release her name.

Both Hallmark and the mother were formally charged with abuse of a corpse in the Sevier County Circuit Court last week. In Arkansas the offense is a felony and can carry a sentence of up to 10 years in prison.

According to the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office, deputies received a report on Nov. 7 regarding a baby being born at a home in Lockesburg. After further investigation, authorities discovered the baby, a boy, did not live and was disposed of. Deputies and Investigators with the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office located the baby in a nearby dumpster.

An autopsy by the Arkansas State Crime Lab on the baby boy is currently pending.