Hearing of defendant scheduled in Columbia baby death

COLUMBIA, Missouri (KMIZ) –

A man accused of killing a baby in Columbia several years ago has a guilty plea hearing scheduled.

Judge Kevin Crane has scheduled a hearing for August 30 at 1:30 p.m. for Staffone Fountain. He is currently charged with murder, endangering a child and abandoning a body for the death of months-old Samone Daniels in 2017. Defense attorney Jennifer Bukowsky confirmed that a hearing is scheduled to take place, but declined to comment on the details.

Fountain is accused of killing the baby in 2017 at the Red Roof Inn in north Columbia. Police believe Fountain, along with the child's mother, Lavosha Daniels, put the baby's body in a bag and left it at a nearby tire shop. The baby was discovered at the shop in 2019.

Police arrested Fountain and Lavosha Daniels in 2022 after someone found a note at another hotel, apparently addressed to police from Daniels, describing the incident. Prosecutors alleged Fountain may have struck the child and placed her in an unsafe sleeping position as he placed her in a car seat and placed her in the bathtub.

Fountain's trial is scheduled to begin on September 24. Lavosha Daniels is charged with endangering a child and abandoning a body. Her next court date is scheduled for September 30.