BABY DUMP NEWS, May 9, 2007–v7 #19
May 9, 2007 – 12:49 pm
BABY DUMP NEWS:
A WEEKLY E-CHRONICLE OF NEWBORN ABANDONMENT
INFANTICIDE,
SAFE HAVEN LEGISLATION
AND RELATED ISSUES
May 9, 2007–v7 #19
Distributed weekly by:
Marley Elizabeth Greiner, Executive Chair, Bastard Nation
Disclaimer: Some newspapers keep articles on 7-14 days (or less) free access and then forward them to paid archives. Please feel free to send articles and websites of interest to maddogmarley@worldnet.att.net
All links are tested just before sending.
READ: The Daily Bastardette, safe haven and adoption commentary,
http://bastardette.blogspot.com
THANKS: Rebecca
***THIS WEEK***
ALABAMA–Accused killer praised as good mother
CALIFORNIA–Oprah honors Debbe Maghusen and Project Cuddle
HAWAI’I SH passes again, goes to Lingle
PENNSYLVANIA–Prosecutor goes for death penalty
INDIA–90% of abandoned babies are girls
…and more!
***NO COMMENT***
Any mother who leaves her baby…they’re not well psychologically. Let’s give them some options and a little time. More time can’t hurt, it’ll probably help.”
…Rep. Alberto Toricco, Whittier Daily News, May 6, 2007
***STATES***
ALABAMA
Mobile Press-Register, May 7, 2007
Women praise accused killer
http://www.al.com/news/press-register/index.ssf?/base/news/1178356668151780.xml&coll=3
BAY MINTETTE–Update on Marsha Gossett Colby case (BDN v5 #7, 9, 11, 26; v6 #15). New bond hearing for Colby. Character witnesses claim Colby was ideal mother. Joyanna McElfresh who worked with Colby in food ministry: “She’s been a faithful worker for us. I don’t think anything would stop her from being with her children if she could.” Eleonora Lee, Alabama Volunteers in Corrections, says Colby is “worthy, genuine and sincere.” Participates in Bible study. Trial has been delayed due to staff changes. Colby has been in jail for over 2 years and gone through 4 lawyers (one left to work as a consultant in Iraq) and 3 prosecutors.
Tuscaloosa News, May 9, 2007
Carrollton woman pleads not guilty in death of newborn
http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20070509/WVUA01/70509001/-1/NEWS03
CARROLLTON–Update on Bridget Lee case (BDN v7 #8, 9) Lee pleads not guilty due to “mental disease or defect.”
ARIZONA
Mesa East Valley Tribune, May 2, 2007
Mom charged with murder; admits to drowning newborn
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/88886
SCOTTSDALE–Update on Cynthia Tureman case (BDN v7 #17-18) Tureman charged with 1st degree murder and child abuse. Police report she says she drowned baby in 12 inches of water, put body in car trunk, and accompanied by her 3 other children, left body in gas station trash. Caught on security tape. Claims she was attacked while visiting her mother and didn’t want to tell husband because he’d think she’d had affair. Comments.
KVOA-TV, Tucson, May 2, 2007
Court records say mother drowned newborn
http://kvoa.com/Global/story.asp?S=6459278
SCOTTSDALE–Tureman gives contradictory statements: she didn’t now she was pregnant and she hid pregnancy from husband who had vasectomy 5 years ago.
Tucson Daily Star, May 3, 2007
Newborn drowns; mom held
http://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/181294
TUCSON–Comments on Tureman case.
CALIFORNIA
Whittier Daily News, May 6, 2007
Bill aims at newborn’s safe surrender
http://www.whittierdailynews.com/news/ci_5834650
WHITTIER–Feature on AB 81 to expand time limit on SH abandonments to 30 days. (Bill now in Appropriations suspension file) Sponsor Alberto Torrico says, “Any mother who leaves her baby…they’re not well psychologically. Let’s give them some options and a little time. More time can’t hurt, it’ll probably help.” Debi Faris-Cifelli from Garden of Angels continues to disagree. California State Assoc. of Counties now pushing for 7-day limit rather than Torrico’s 30. More than 190 SH cases since law went into effect; 146 other newborns found abandoned and alive; 27 found dead. Two nurses behind idea of Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center deposit box says walking into an ER might be “difficult.”
Pasadena Weekly, May 9, 2009
No shame, blame, names
http://www.pasadenaweekly.com/article.php?id=4625&IssueNum=71
PASADENA–Very long feature on SH focusing on Whittier Baby Tessa/Porsche BDN v5 #26, 40 ) and Tonya Mae Schaefer (BDN v6 # 12, 13, 14, 48) cases. Lots of promotion details. Comments from Debi Faris-Cifelli and Don Knabe.
Orange County Register, May 9, 2007
Oprah’s in on the act
http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/news/local/costamesa_newport/article_1689377.php
COSTA MESA–Debbe Magnusen, founder of Project Cuddle, honored by Oprah; “kidnapped” by John Stamos and taken to Disneyland. Greeted by “mothers who had given up their babies and the families who had taken them in.”
Mickey News, May 9, 2007
Family joins Oprah at Disneyland to honor Project Cuddle founder
http://www.mickeynews.com/News/DisplayPressRelease.asp_Q_id_E_597Oprah
COSTA MESA–More on Debbe Magnusen and Oprah.
CONNECTICUT
New Haven Register, May 4, 2007
Give Baby X a name
http://www.nhregister.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18299104&BRD=1281&PAG=461&dept_id=7581&rfi=6
HARTFORD–Update on Baby X case (BDN v7 #17-18). Paper demands that prosecutor sign warrant and prosecute 31 year old case.
New Britain Herald, May 8, 2007
Middle-school girls publicize safe haven law
http://www.newbritainherald.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18312247&BRD=1641&PAG=461&dept_id=572382&rfi=6
SOUTHINGTON–Group of 8th graders raise SH awareness in 6 communities with $1000 grant from Main Street Community Foundation’s Women’s and Girls Fund. Girls have made posters and sent them to school districts. Posters will also be enlarged, laminated and posted in Southington grocery stores. Student Tori Munson says that most mothers who are questioned after abandoning or killing their newborns say if they’d known about SH they’d have used it. (NOTE: state has had 5 official illegal abandonment cases including 1 death since law went into effect.) Another student, Annie Gentile says, “The babies we could possibly be saving by raising awareness may go on to lead the world, discover the cure for cancer or make a difference in the world.”
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
WUSA-TV, Washington, DC, May 4, 2007
http://www.wusa9.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=58306&provider=gnews
WASHINGTON, DC–Review of SH laws in WDC area; WDC has no law, but infants can be relinquished a DC Child and Family Services office after child is 72 hours old.
MARYLAND
Firehouse.com, May 4, 2007
Baby abandoned outsides Maryland fire facility
http://cms.firehouse.com/content/article/article.jsp?sectionId=46&id=54578
LANDOVER–7-month old baby left outside Prince George’s County Fire Services building. Child’s name may be Elijah
Gaithersburg Business Gazette, May 4, 2007
Relative of abandoned baby found
http://www.gazette.net/stories/050407/prinnew144405_32356.shtml
LANDOVER–Police locate relatives; no details.
MASSACHUSETTS
Boston Herald, May 2, 2007
Editorial: Extend the Safe Haven law
http://news.bostonherald.com/editorial/view.bg?articleid=197939&srvc=home
BOSTON–Wants state’s SH law made permanent. “But even one child passed into the arms of a firefighter or an emergency room nurse–instead of into a trash bin or a dumpster–justifies its presence on the books.”
Beacon Hill Roll Call/Malden Observer, May 7, 2007
Safe Haven for babies (S2177)
http://www.townonline.com/malden/homepage/x1979643907
BOSTON–Senate gives initial approval to bill to make SH permanent; later postpones action until July 2 so legislators can read state SH report due for release on June 30.
Christian Science Monitor, May 10, 2007
Abandoned babies ought to be high on the list of issues we pray about
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0510/p18s01-hfcs.html
BOSTON–Commentary taken from Christian Science Sentinel. Encourages people to pray for abandoned babies and their parents. “A friend of mine was abandoned as a child and never knew his parents or even his birth date. He lived in foster homes and was abused. But after he found Christian Science, his sense of himself changed radically for the better. One of the things I’ve found most interesting is that his sense of bitterness, and even his conviction of the darkness of the past, disappeared as he realized that God has never actually been absent from him even in those worse of times. He realized that God’s presence was constant for him, then as well as now.”
MICHIGAN
Detroit News, May 4, 2007
Newborn’s mom faces mental exam
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070504/METRO01/705040383/1006
WESTLAND–Update on Valeeka Noelle Gartrell case (BDN v7 #17-18). Gartrell will undergo psychiatric evaluation; lawyer says she suffered from postpartum depression. Gartrell’s mother and stepfather have temporary custody of baby. Gartrell on house arrest with $50,000 bond.
NEW JERSEY
Jersey City Journal, May 2, 2007
Burial for baby
http://www.nj.com/news/jjournal/index.ssf?/base/news-4/1178085319200200.xml&coll=3
BAYONNE–Update on Rocio Leon case (BDN v7 #17-18). Leon’s family wants to hold funeral for baby. Brother, Jesus, says they didn’t know Rocio was pregnant; mother threatened to throw her out of the house if she had another baby. Hudson County Health & Human Services Director Carol Ann Wilson said dept. is preparing to launch all-out effort “in many languages”– about Project Safe Haven, “which permits moms who feel they can’t care for their newborns to surrender them to hospitals or police stations for adoption.”
Jersey City Journal, May 9, 2007
How to teach teen options on unwanted newborns?
http://www.nj.com/news/jjournal/index.ssf?/base/news-2/117869141378430.xml&coll=3
BAYONNE–Advocates for Bayonne Children soliciting public input to help prevent newborn abandonment. Scheduled to meet in Bayonne Faith-Based Center office at City Hall. Looking for ways to get SH information as a last resort, but also interested in parenting classes.
NEW YORK
WINS-AM, May 2, 2007
Sister says she was unaware of Brooklyn baby found in bag
http://1010wins.com/pages/411099.php?contentType=4&contentId=461335
BROOKLYN–Update on Laura Sergio case (BDN v7 #15). Laura’s sister Andria, says she didn’t know trash bag she dumped outside their Brooklyn home had remains of infant in it.
Brooklyn Paper, May 5, 2007
Sister Act 2: Sibling indicted in baby murder
http://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories/30/18/30_18babymurder.html
BROOKLYN–Andria Sergio indicted for hindering prosecution. DA Charles Hynes lectures on SH saying there is no excuse for death, “Pregnant women who do not want to keep their babies need to realize that there is a program, Baby Safe Haven, that allows them to legally leave their unharmed newborns at hospitals, firehouses, and churches throughout Brooklyn.”
WABC-TV, May 6, 2007
Baby found dead in closet
http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=local&id=5279670
QUEENS–One-week old baby found dead in closet when foul odor attracts attention. 15-year old alleged mother questioned.
NORTH CAROLINA
Raleigh News & Observer, May 9, 2007
Newborn turned in under “safe surrender” law
http://www.newsobserver.com/102/story/572385.html
GREENVILLE–Woman turns newborn girl in to Greenville Fire/Rescue Dept. Approaches battalion chief saying “Is this the place to drop off babies…I’m not able to take care of it, here it is.”
PENNSYLVANIA
York Dispatch, May 9, 2007
Prosecutors seek the death penalty in newborn’s death
http://www.yorkdispatch.com/pennsylvania/ci_5854071
BUTLER–Update on Lauren Elizabeth Jones case (BDN v7 #10-11, 12, 14). Prosecutors will pursue death penalty against Jones, accused of stabbing newborn in neck with steak knife.
UTAH
Salt Lake City Tribune, May 23, 2007
Teen asked justices to let her take back plea in newborn’s death
http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_5799924
SALT LAKE CITY–Lawyer for “KM” who admitted she caused newborn’s death in 2002, wants Utah Supreme Court to rescind her guilty plea. Contends teen who had IQ between 79-84 thought she was acknowledging only that she had neglected a “little body” by not calling for help after giving birth in bathroom. Against parents advice pled guilty to 3rd degree felony charge of child-abuse homicide . Tried to withdraw admission a week later saying she was pressured to take plea.
******
***INTERNATIONAL***
ENGLAND
Kenilworth Today, May 2, 2007
Woman who dumped dead baby in river will see psychiatrist
http://www.kenilworthtoday.co.uk/viewarticle.aspx?articleid=2848427§ionid=691
ALCESTER–Update on Baby Lilly/Rachael Davies case (BDN v6 #22, 23, 24, 26,50; v7 #13, 14). Davies, 26, will have psychiatric evaluation before sentencing for concealing birth. Picture.
INDIA
CNN-IBN, May 2, 2007
College girl adopts ditched baby
http://www.ibnlive.com/printpage.php?id=39643§ion_id=3
GHAZIABAD–Update on Kalpna Pathak case (BDN v7 #17-18). Picture.
CNN-IBN, May 2, 2007
No official figure on ditched babies
http://www.ibnlive.com/news/no-official-figure-on-ditched-babies/39629-3.html
GURGAON–No official figures of how many babies are abandoned each year in India, but number is in the tens of thousands. Parents who relinquish through traditional means have 2 months to change their minds.
NDTV-New Dehli, May 2, 2007
Millionaires adopt abandoned baby
http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20070010696
MADHYA PRADESH–2 /12 month old Shiv,abandoned on train in February, adopted by millionaires. Picture.
Times of India, May 9, 2007
90% abandoned kids are girls
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/90_abandoned_kids_are_girls/articleshow/2020237.cms
NEW DELHI–More than 11 million abandoned children in India; 90% of them girls. Cradle system scheduled to begin.
ISRAEL
(Tel Aviv) Ha’aretz, May 6, 2007
Police searching for mother of baby abandoned in Rahat
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/856287.html
RAHAT–Police looking for mother of week-old baby girl found at entrance of mosque in Negev Bedouin village. Doctor says she is in good health and looks like she’d received good care before abandonment. Police investigating cautiously since mother’s life may be in danger. If mother can’t be located baby will be placed in fostercare. Newborn abandonment in Israel rare; only a couple a year.
LIBERIA
all.africa.com, May 3, 2007
Woman, 30, kills her baby
http://allafrica.com/stories/200705030779.html
GBARNGA, BONG COUNTY–Haja Dorley, 30, accused of murder after newborn found in abandoned well. Says her boyfriend is in Guinea and hasn’t provided assistance.
MALAYSIA
New Straits Times Press, May 9, 2007
Dead baby found after mum sent to hospital
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Sunday/National/20070506091601/Article/index_html
SUNNGAI PETANI–Body of newborn found stashed under bed after woman in her 20s taken to hospital complaining of severe stomach pain and excessive bleeding.
PAKISTAN
Lahore Daily Times, May 4, 2007
Desperate people abandon 20 babies at Edhi cradles each month in Sindh
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007%5C05%5C04%5Cstory_4-5-2007_pg12_6
KARACHI–Another feature on Edhi Centre that takes in newborns. 300 centers throughout country; about 20 babies a month left in cradles. “We don’t investigate the child’s parents,” says Anwer Kazmi, gen. sec. of Abdus Sattar Edhi Foundation, “They are all the same for us. More often than not, the children left at our doorsteps are a day or two old. On rare occasions, we find one-or two-year olds as well–most of these are either severely ill or handicapped, and are left in the cradle because their parents are not able to bear their expenses of treatment.” Sometimes parents leave notes with wishes and instructions.
SOUTH AFRICA
iol.com, May 9, 2007
Mom abandons baby next to a dustbin
http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=15&art_id=vn20070509021950692C181087
PRETORIA–Day old Baby Jackie, found next to dustbin in Jan Niemand Park. Last week another abandoned baby girl was found in Mamelodi Hospital public toilet shortly after birth. Picture.
SPAIN
Think Spain, May 7, 2007
Police arrest woman who reported abandoned baby
http://www.thinkspain.com/news-spain/13061
VALENCIA–21-year old Bolivian woman arrested after police learn she is the mother of a baby she claimed to have found.
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO
Trinidad Express, May 9, 2007
Newborn thrown from vehicle
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_news?id=161143364
LA BREA VILLAGE–Dead newborn boy found near bridge; police believe he died when thrown from vehicle.
***THEATRE***
Variety, May 2, 2007
Coram Boy
http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117933513.html?categoryid=33&cs=1
NEW YORK CITY–Long review of NY production based on 2002 novel. Any story that covers elements of infanticide, abandoned children, sexual abuse and juvenile slave trading is bound to have affecting passages…But the curious effect of “Coram Boy” is that despite an inordinate amount of weeping and waling, this stodgy 18th century Dickensian soap offers little emotional connect.
Westchester Journal News, May 3, 2007
On Broadway: “Coram Boy” is dark fare
http://www.nynews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070503/ENTERTAINMENT/705030332
NEW YORK CITY–Another bad review. “”…leaves you feeling like a goose that has been force-fed to make foie gras. In other words, it’s torture…a relentless downer.” Says instead of telling a story about the Foundling Hospital it “dwells on the horrible abuses of people who took advantage of the single mothers who turned to the hospital for help.”
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