Sentence Commuted For Burnsville Woman Who Killed Newborn: Report

BURNSVILLE, MN — The Minnesota Board of Pardons is working to commute the 25-year sentence of a Burnsville woman who was convicted of drowning her newborn daughter in 2005, according to a report by the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

Samantha Heiges, 35, was 19 and said she was in an abusive relationship with a man who forced her to kill her daughter, the publication reported. She said he hurt her to try and terminate the pregnancy and threatened to kill Heiges and the baby if she didn't kill the baby herself, the report said.

The Board is made up of Gov. Tim Walz, Attorney General Keith Ellison and Supreme Court Chief Justice Lorie Skjerven Gildea and agreed to allow Heiges to serve the rest of her sentence on probation, according to the report. She has already served 13 of the 25 years, the publication reported.

The Board will meet in December and make an official plan for Heiges' release, the report said.

You can read the full story at The St. Paul Pioneer Press.