Fort Dodge Man Sentenced to Up to 50 Years for Role in Death of Newborn

A Fort Dodge father who plead guilty to Child Endangerment Causing Death and Abuse of a Corpse has been sentenced to up to 50 years in prison.

Brandon Thoma was originally charged with murder in the first degree alongside the child’s mother, Taylor Blaha following an investigation into what caused the death of the couple’s newborn.

Thoma plead guilty to a lesser charge of Child Endangerment Causing Death which he was sentenced to up to 50 years, and also plead guilty to an Abuse of a Corpse Charge which he was sentenced to 10 years for.

Thoma must serve 20 years of the sentences  which will run concurrently.

According to Fort Dodge Police, the investigation into the baby’s death began after Blaha told detectives she had given birth to a baby on November 16th in her apartment. Together with Thoma, the two held the baby underwater in a bathtub until she died.

Blaha pleaded guilty to 2nd degree murder and requested to be sentenced the same day last month. She was sentenced to 50 years in prison, which she will serve a minimum of 70% of, she was also ordered to submit DNA and pay restitution.

In addition to the prison sentence, Thoma was ordered to pay 150k in restitution. 

Although area agencies searched for the baby’s body throughout downtown Fort Dodge and at the landfill, the body was not recovered.