After a long wait, an alleged South Carolina teen mom child killer is finally heading to to trial — 4 four years after her 16-month-old baby boy died.
Wearing a black dress suit Amber Bracci arrived at the Dorchester County Courthouse in St. George just after 11 a.m. Monday morning.
Bracci, who was 19 in early 2011 when her baby boy died, is facing a Homicide by Child Abuse charge in the death of her 16-month old son little Rowan.
The Dorchester County Coroner said in 2011 Rowan died of a severe head injury. Her boyfriend John Weaver, age 20 at the time Rowan died, is also charged in the case
In a bond hearing just weeks after the Bracci was charged, her boyfriend’s attorney said that Bracci believed Rowan was “possessed.”
“She has made a statement that she struck the baby because she felt the baby was possessed,” said Weaver’s attorney, Andy Savage, in early February 2011.
Dorchester County Sheriff’s Investigators said that Bracci admitted to them that she smoked marijuana after she saw that Rowan was injured and before she called 911 on Jan. 6, 2011.
Bracci smoked “two bowls” of marijuana over the course of 2 hours after she first noticed Rowan’s injuries and then made the call for help, deputies said.
It has been a long wait for prosecutors in the 1st Circuit Solicitors Office since the incident happened in January 2011.
Now they are ready to present evidence they say proves Bracci and then-boyfriend Weaver of Summerville are responsible for young Rowan’s death.
Weaver is also charged with Homicide by Child Abuse and will be tried separately. Jury Selection for Bracci began Monday with opening statements to follow.
Bracci called 911 to her home in Jan. 2011. Rowan was rushed to the hospital and died 2 days later of a “closed head injury.”
Bracci claims she did not cause Rowan’s fatal injuries. Weaver as well claims he had nothing to do with the child’s death.
Both Bracci and Weaver are out on bond while awaiting trial. A date for Weaver’s trial has not been set.
