Mother Faces Murder Charges After 14-Year-Old Son with Autism Dies at Home Alone

An Alabama woman with two children who have autism was arrested and charged with neglect and murder after she left them alone at home, resulting in the death of one of them.

The two teenage boys with autism were left alone at their residence by their mother, Amanda Morgan, who was arrested on March 17 by the Mobile County Sheriff's office.

The 39-year-old woman was charged with aggravated child abuse and murder following a police investigation that began after an incident in October 2025.

In October 2025, police responded to Morgan’s residence in the 6000 Block of Sperry Road after report of a child not breathing. When officers arrived, they found a 14-year-old boy unresponsive and pronounced him dead at the scene.

Police said Morgan had left her two teenage boys with autism alone overnight. One child was 16 years old, and the other was 14. The 14-year-old accidentally became entangled in a blanket, which wrapped around his neck and caused his death from accidental strangulation.

After police arrived at Morgan’s residence, they reported clear signs of neglect. Officers said the family was living without an air conditioner or running water. The house was also bug-infested and covered in feces, according to police.

According to court testimony, this was not the first time that Morgan left her children alone at home for “extended periods of time.”

On the night when the 14-year-old died, Morgan had similarly left the boys alone.

The autopsy report mentioned that the 14-year-old child had a blanket wrapped around his neck, which resulted in accidental strangulation.

The 16-year-old was admitted to a hospital for malnutrition and related health concerns.

During the March 18 court hearing, Morgan was given a bond of $ 440,000 on charge of aggravated child abuse and another $ 440,000 on the charge of murder. The court also ordered Morgan to have no contact with her surviving son.

Morgan is set to be arraigned on March 24.