Trial dates set for mother, boyfriend charged in connection with death of Aiden Archer

MILWAUKEE COUNTY -- 27-year-old Maurice Snyder, facing several charges in connection with the death of three-year-old Aiden Archer, and the boy's mother, 24-year-old Megan Scott, charged with failing to prevent child abuse had court appearances scheduled for Monday, July 13th in Milwaukee County. In court on Monday, trial dates were set for Snyder and Scott.

Maurice Snyder



Scott has a pre-trial hearing scheduled for September 4th, and her jury trial is set to begin on September 21st.

Snyder has a motion hearing scheduled for August 21st, and a trial scheduled for October 26th.

Both Scott and Snyder have pleaded not guilty to the charges filed against them in this case.

Snyder faces the following criminal charges:


    Scott faces one count of failing to prevent child abuse.

    Three-year-old Aiden Archer died at the hospital on June 3rd.

    This, after he was taken to the hospital from a home near 54th and Euclid on June 1st.

    Megan Scott



    According to the criminal complaint, police were called to a residence shared by Scott and Snyder near 54th and Euclid late on Monday, June 1st. They were investigating a case of an injured child. When they arrived, they found three-year-old Aiden Archer "unresponsive and not breathing." Archer was attended to by emergency personnel and "conveyed to Children's Hospital of Wisconsin" where he later died.

    The complaint indicates a team of medical professionals at Children's Hospital admitted and treated Archer who was diagnosed with injuries including head trauma, a skull fracture, multiple bruises, at least eleven distinct human bite injuries and a cut to the back of the head.

    Prosecutors say Snyder originally gave police a fake name -- and told them the boy fell over a toy. But what really happened was nothing like that -- according to the criminal complaint.

    Aiden Archer



    Earlier in the day, Aiden's father dropped the boy off at the home -- and he appeared in good health. But later that changed.

    The complaint indicates when police talked with Scott, she told officers she fed the child around 11 a.m. and then returned to a bedroom where Snyder was seated. The complaint says when Scott got up to get her cigarettes, she "heard a sound as if (Snyder) kicked Aiden Archer." The complaint says "Megan Scott asked the defendant why the defendant kicked Aiden Archer, to which the defendant responded, 'Sorry buddy.'"

    The complaint indicates around 3 p.m. that same day, "while Megan Scott was in the shower, she heard a large boom followed by Aiden Archer crying." She jumped out of the shower and entered the bedroom where she saw Snyder and the child. "The defendant was holding his hand and complaining of pain," the complaint says. When Scott asked what happened, Snyder allegedly claimed the child "was crying and attempting to go into the shower." In his attempt to prevent the child from going to the shower, Snyder "claimed that he struck his hand on a dresser."

    Aiden Archer



    Another woman living with Scott told her to take the boy to the hospital after she noticed Aiden moving slowly with a large bruise on his forehead -- and what appeared to be strangulation marks on the boy's neck. Instead, the complaint says Scott left the house to charge her cell phone before leaving Aiden in Snyder's care.

    Scott told police both she and Snyder use heroin, and investigators found needles in the bedroom, according to the complaint. The complaint indicates the home Snyder, Scott and Archer lived in near 54th and Euclid had no electricity.

    An autopsy on Aiden Archer is was completed on June 6th, and it was determined Archer died as a result of blunt force trauma to his head and body. His death was ruled a homicide.

    Archer's father told police Aiden was diagnosed with mild autism, and Scott said the boy was non-verbal.

    Archer's organs were donated to help others.

    Monitor FOX6 News and FOX6Now.com for updates.

    Vigil for Aiden Archer