Babysitter Arrested for Murder of 3 Year Old Boy
The Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office has arrested an individual in connection with the death of a 3-year-old boy in Happy Camp, CA.
A Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Deputy was dispatched to a medical emergency involving an unresponsive 3-year-old child at a residence on Curly Jack Road in Happy Camp at 5:08 pm on Friday, June 13th. At the time of the incident, the child was in the care of a babysitter, Marion Southard Spence, age 23, of Happy Camp. The child was transported via air ambulance to Rogue Regional Medical Center in Medford, Oregon, and then subsequently transferred to the Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) in Portland, Oregon where he was joined by his family.
Despite continued life-saving efforts, at 4:51 a.m. on June 15th, the child was pronounced deceased by medical personnel. A subsequent investigation into the death of the child led Sheriff’s Detectives to arrest Spence for murder and multiple felony charges of child neglect and great bodily injury. Spence is currently being held at the Siskiyou County Jail.
This case remains under active investigation. The Sheriff’s Office asks the public for patience while investigative efforts continue, and additional updates will be provided as the findings from the case progresses. In addition, the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office extends its deepest condolences to the child’s family during this incredibly difficult time.
If anyone has information regarding this tragic case, we urge the public to contact the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office at (530) 841-2900, and anonymous tips may be submitted via the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office website. For media inquiries, please contact our Public Information Officer at (530) 598-1647.
Yreka, CA – June 16, 2025 – Marion Southard Spence, a 23-year-old resident of Happy Camp, California, was arrested by the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) on Sunday, June 15, 2025, at 5:11 PM in Yreka. The arrest, documented with booking number 2502442, stems from allegations of severe crimes, including murder and assaults on a child under 8, according to a booking report generated on Monday, June 16, 2025, at 9:12 AM.
Spence, born on August 31, 2001, in Templeton, CA, resides in Happy Camp, CA. The SCSO report indicates he faces three felony charges: murder under California Penal Code 187(A), assault on a child under 8 resulting in death under 273AB(A), and custody/care assault on a child under 8 causing great bodily injury under 273AB(B). Each charge carries one count, with no strikes noted, and no bail has been set, suggesting Spence will remain in custody.
Authorities have scheduled a court appearance for Spence on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, at 3:00 PM at the Siskiyou County Superior Court in Yreka, where formal charges will likely be presented during an arraignment.
Details surrounding the incidents leading to the arrest remain limited, as the booking report provides no additional comments or specifics, SCSO declines to comment on active investigations.
Sources: Siskiyou News Website
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