In a shocking incident, an 18-year-old woman from Idaho was apprehended by the police following her alleged act of leaving a deceased infant in a Safe Haven Baby Box at a local hospital.
The woman, identified as Angel N. Newberry, was arrested on the grounds of failing to report a death to the law enforcement officials and the coroner, as stated by the Blackfoot Police. Subsequently, she was incarcerated in the Bingham County Jail.
As reported by Fox News, the Safe Haven Baby Box is a provision that enables parents to surrender their newborns, aged under 30 days, safely and anonymously without facing legal consequences. However, this provision is applicable only if the child is unharmed. The act of leaving a harmed or deceased infant is not protected under this provision.
The arrest of Newberry was a result of an investigation initiated after the police received a report on October 13 about a deceased baby left in a baby box at Grove Creek Medical Center. Safe Haven Baby Boxes, the organization behind the initiative, stated that the hospital staff responded promptly to an alarm indicating the presence of a baby in the box. However, it was soon discovered that the infant had tragically passed away long before being placed in the box.
The organization shared on Facebook, "Grove Creek Medical Center staff responded immediately to the alarm, indicating a baby was in the box. The medical team removed the infant from the bassinet within a minute. Upon removal, they quickly realized that the infant had passed away long before being placed in the baby box. The Safe Haven Law in Idaho allows for the surrender of an infant who is unharmed and healthy. Therefore, this was not a legal surrender under state law as it does not meet the criteria for Safe Haven surrender."
Monica Kelsey, the founder of Safe Haven Baby Boxes, expressed her grief over the incident, stating, "We are heartbroken. Let this be clear: this is an illegal, deadly abandonment. Anonymity is only allowed when an infant is safely surrendered completely unharmed." She further revealed that when the baby was placed in the box, she was wrapped in a blanket with the placenta still attached.
The Blackfoot Police, who are working in collaboration with Twin Falls Police on the investigation, have stated that due to the sensitive nature of the ongoing investigation and the potential for further criminal charges, they are limited in the information they can release.
The baby box at Grove Creek was installed in July, marking it as the first in the state where parents can surrender newborns safely and anonymously, as per KIVI. This incident, however, casts a shadow over the noble intention behind the initiative, highlighting the need for stricter regulations and awareness about the proper use of such facilities.
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