Little Rock mother pleads not guilty in murder case

Rock Rapids, Iowa – The mother of a child prosecutors say was murdered in Little Rock has pleaded not guilty to the charges against her.

According to court records, Sydney Schneidermann, 25, of Little Rock, was arrested on Aug. 31 on charges of first-degree murder and child endangerment. According to court records, she used her cellphone to search the internet for “shaken baby syndrome” three days before taking her infant son to the Rock Rapids hospital on Sept. 10 of last year. Tests in the emergency room showed the baby's vital signs were normal, and the child was released that evening, but was back in the emergency room the next day in critical condition. The baby was flown to a hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where he died two weeks later.

She is currently scheduled to have a preliminary hearing in November, but this could be postponed.

According to court documents, 27-year-old Brenann Schneiderman, the baby's father, has been charged with child endangerment resulting in death. Investigators say his wife sent him a screenshot of her research on “shaken baby syndrome” three days before her first hospital visit and his “failure to protect” the boy contributed to his death. He will be arraigned on that charge on Monday, September 23.

An autopsy revealed the child suffered broken ribs and brain trauma. Doctors in Sioux Falls say swelling of the child's brain and bruising on his neck indicate child abuse.