In a harrowing case that has ignited widespread discussion around parenting, alcohol abuse, and accountability, 33-year-old Brennan Spencer of Oklahoma City has been charged with second-degree murder following the death of her two-month-old son, Rory Kelson. Authorities say the child’s death — which occurred in November 2024 — was entirely preventable.
According to court documents obtained by People, Spencer and her partner, James Kelson, drank heavily the night of the incident, splitting a 12-pack of White Claw hard seltzer before midnight. After Kelson went to bed, Spencer allegedly left their home to purchase more alcohol, leaving her alone with their infant twins.
Surveillance footage from a local 7-Eleven shows Spencer buying four additional tallboys of hard seltzer at 1:23 a.m. She returned home shortly after.
Later that night, investigators say Spencer passed out on the couch with one twin in her arms and Rory on the floor beside her. When Kelson woke around 6:45 a.m., he found Spencer asleep in the living room with one baby beside her — and Rory unresponsive on the floor. Paramedics arrived, but the infant was pronounced dead at the scene.
Medical Examiner Attributes Death to Neglect and Asphyxiation
The Oklahoma County Medical Examiner ruled Rory’s cause of death as asphyxiation due to an unsafe sleep environment. Authorities discovered 15 empty cans of hard seltzer in the home. According to Deputy Chief Child Abuse Examiner Ryan Brown, Rory likely would have survived had he remained in his bassinet.
The findings prompted the Cleveland County District Attorney to pursue formal charges in late June.
Spencer is currently being held on $500,000 bond and has not yet entered a plea. Her preliminary court appearance is scheduled for August 5.
Partner Seeks Legal Help, Stands by Her Side
Despite the devastating loss, Spencer’s partner, James Kelson, has remained publicly supportive. In a Facebook post following her arrest, he asked for referrals to pro bono attorneys willing to take on what he described as a “state vs. accidental death of a child case.”
The case has drawn a flood of emotional responses online. While some demand accountability, others point to the unintentional nature of the tragedy and are urging compassion.
At the heart of the legal debate is whether Spencer’s impaired state and behavior that night constitute second-degree murder or a lesser charge tied to negligence.
Now known as the “Oklahoma mom” at the center of a tragic, polarizing case, Brennan Spencer sits behind bars — facing the possibility that a single night of poor choices cost her not just her freedom, but the life of her child.
