BABY DUMP NEWS, June 13. 2007–v7 #24
June 13, 2007 – 12:34 pm
BABY DUMP NEWS:
A WEEKLY E-CHRONICLE OF NEWBORN ABANDONMENT
INFANTICIDE,
SAFE HAVEN LEGISLATION
AND RELATED ISSUES
June 13. 2007 –v7 #24
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
***ANNOUNCEMENT***
2nd catch up post
THANKS:
***THIS WEEK***
CALIFORNIA–Ashcraft charges thrown out
IOWA–Federal funds promote SH
MARYLAND–Prosecutor says SH for mothers “without means”
TEXAS–$1M bond for teen
ALBERTA—American tells Canadians they need SH
AUSTRALIA–Body found at recycling plant
…and more!
***STATES***
CALIFORNIA
Orange County Register, June 7. 2007
Lawmakers act on hundreds of bills
http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/news/state/article_1721995.php
SACRAMENTO–Assembly passes AB 81, 56-11 to expand abandonment time frame; bill sent to Senate.
Los Angeles Times, June 13, 2007
Charge thrown out in infant death
LOS ANGELES–Update on Holly Ashcraft case (BDN v5 #42, 44-45, 46-47; v6 #3. 7, 39, 40, 48; v7 #3, 6, 7, 10-11, 13). Judge rules that charges against Ashcraft had been dismissed twice (murder and involuntary manslaughter), the maximum allowed under CA law; no more homicide charges can be filed. Prosecutors may appeal, but defense attorney Mark Geragos says he’ll win if they do. Judge also looses bail restrictions; Ashcraft will be allowed to leave home for extended time, but must return at night.
FLORIDA
Gainesville Sun, June 8, 2007
Abandoned as newborn, woman seeks parents
http://calsun.canoe.ca/News/Alberta/2007/06/07/4242752.html
GAINESVILLE–Feature on Lisa-Renee Slaughter, abandoned when a few hours old; getting married and wants information about bio family. Doesn’t want mother prosecuted if she’s found. Has registered with adoption registries but believes going public with search is the only option left to her, though she doesn’t have much hope.
KCCI-TV, Des Moines, June 8, 2007
Web Site: Woman accused in newborn’s death partied
http://www.kcci.com/news/13465871/detail.html
CEDAR RAPIDS–Update on Ashley Truitt case (BDN v7 #23 also see Iowa). According to Ubersonic, a website for ravers, Truitt often attended raves and posted messages asking for rides to parties; warned that she had to sneak out of home.
HAWAI’I
Honolulu Star Bulletin, June 11, 2007
“Baby Safe Haven” law will preserve young lives
http://starbulletin.com/2007/06/12/editorial/commentary.html
HONOLULU–Commentary from Rep. John Mizuno, sponsor of state’s HB 1830 SH bill. Says opponents miss point. Invites opponents to come to his district and see young mothers “almost children themselves” or who have missing parents or who are drug addicts. “These poor girls have been backed into a corner and their only option is to abandon the child and run.” Fails to mention that there has been only 1 prosecutable neonaticde/abandonment since 1996.
ILLINOIS
Daily Southtown, June 7, 2007
Mokena fire stations are safe havens for newborns
http://www.dailysouthtown.com/news/417530,073NWS5.article
MOKENA–SH signs will be posted at Mokena district fire stations. Fire chief doesn’t want “anything unfortunate to happen”
IOWA
Quad Cities Online.com, June 7, 2007
Baby’s death revives debate on Safe-haven law
http://qconline.com/archives/qco/display.php?id=341495
DES MOINES–Update on Ashley Truitt case (BDN v7 #23. Also see Florida). Unclear if Truitt knew about IA and FL laws. Roger Munns, spokesperson for IDHS says not enough people know about program; promotion limited to word-of-mouth. Commenting on Truitt case, Cheryl Meyer, co-author of Mothers Who Kill Their Children says, “tell me that this girl was going to wander through the hotel with this baby and with blood everywhere and find the nearest church or hospital.
DesMoines Register, June 7, 2007
Ad campaign to publicize safe-haven law
http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070607/NEWS/706070396/-1/SPORTS09
DES MOINES–Iowa plans to start $50,000 ad campaign this month, with federal funds, to promote SH. Roger Munns, spokesperson for ISHS says he was unaware that funds were earmarked to buy Utah-developed TV advertising campaign to be placed on youth-oriented cable networks channels. Timing of promotion not related to Ashley Truitt case.
KTVO-TV, Kirksville (MO), June 7, 2007
Saving babies in the Hawkeye State
http://www.ktvotv3.com/Global/story.asp?S=6622584&nav=1LFs
OTTUMWA–Ottumwa Regional Health Center marketing director says they advertise SH.
Iowa City Press Citizen, June 12, 2007
First lady launches infant protection effort
http://www.press-citizen.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070612/NEWS01/70612013/1079
DES MOINES–First lady Mari Culver helps launch SH promotion campaign. “It is critical that Iowa women who are scared and think they have no where to turn know they can turn a newborn baby over to any health facility with no questions asked.” Believes TV ads have only limited effect, but “if it saves just one…”
MARYLAND
WJZ-TV, Baltimore, June 10, 2007
Mother arrested after she abandons baby
http://wjz.com/topstories/local_story_162165044.html
WHITE MARSH–Ebony Hill arrested for leaving 16-month daughter at church. Too old for SH, but Sandra O’Connor, Baltimore County State’s Attorney says, “A young mother that doesn’t have the means, rather than in the past [when] we’ve’ ended up with harmed or dead babies, can take this baby to a hospital or church. Someplace that is safe and leave the baby.”
NEW YORK
Capital News 9-TV, Albany, June 7, 2007
Teen accused of throwing newborn in trash pleads guilty
http://www.capitalnews9.com/content/headlines/?ArID=213526&SecID=33
BRUNSWICK–Victoria McGivern, 18, pleads guilty to throwing newborn in trash in April. Autopsy doesn’t determine if baby was born alive so she will only be fined. Picture.
OHIO
Kent State University Daily Kent Stater, June 13, 2007
Adoption: the smarter option
KENT–Commentary about returnable children; vague, but doesn’t seem fond of SH. “Nine months is often not long enough for birth parents, especially mothers, to choose the option that may be in the child’s best interest: adoption. And those who choose to do so later in their children’s lives should not be viewed as lazy, uncompassionate parents seeking the easy way out Putting a child up for adoption is an act both laudable and courageous if done in the proper manner, because it results hopefully in the ultimate gift a parent can give a child: a secure home and good life.”
Toledo Blade, June 13, 2007
Infant left in Findlay restroom may be adopted
http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070613/NEWS17/70613009
FINDLAY–Update on Riverside park/Baby Parker Matthew Findlay case (BDN v7 #19, 21, 22),. Hancock County judge schedules dependency hearing for June 28; dispositional hearing for July 12. Police still unable to ID parents.
TEXAS
Corpus Christi Caller-Telegraph, June 7, 2007
South Tx., teen accused of newborn’s murder
http://www.caller.com/news/2007/jun/07/south-tx-teen-accused-newborns-murder/
RAYMONDVILLE–Update on Wendy Gill case (BDN v7 #23). Gill held on $1M bond; abandonment and death premeditated. Gill’s mother says Gill will use insanity defuse. “Only a psychotic would do that, and that’s what we’re going to argue,” Says she would have supported daughter if she’d told her she was pregnant. “We let her know that if she got pregnant the one who got her pregnant was going to take care of her. It’s not like she was going to be kicked out of the house.” Has custody of Gill’s 18-month old daughter.
Azle News, June 7, 2007
Deceased infant found
http://www.azle-news.com/news/get-news.asp?id=7442&catid=1&cpg=get-news.asp
AZLE–Update on Eagle Mountain Lake case (BDN v7 #23). More details. Police believe baby wasn’t brought to lake and put in water; believe baby came fro somewhere else around lake. ME determines baby was fullterm of Caucasian or Hispanic origin. Azle has 2 SH drop-off spots.
KTRK-TV, Houston, June 10, 2007
Newborn found dead inside SW Houston apartment
http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=local&id=5384027
HOUSTON–Newborn’s body found in apartment closet after suspected mother, 23, taken to hospital for severe bleeding. Police trying to locate father of baby; may be working out of town.
Houston Chronicle, June 13, 2007
Mother of strangled baby charged with evidence tampering
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/4885068.html
HOUSTON–Mother ID’d as Claudia Cortes charged with homicide; autopsy indicates baby was strangled. Cortes still in hospital and hasn’t been questioned. Originally claimed she was 2 months pregnant and had miscarriage; boyfriend was with her and called 911. Currently charged with tampering with or fabricating physical evidence. Cortes has 7-year old daughter who lives with relatives in El Salvador.
***CANADA***
ALBERTA
Calgary Sun, June 7, 2007
Search of hotels hospitals fail to turn up mother of abandoned baby
http://calsun.canoe.ca/News/Alberta/2007/06/07/4242752.html
MEDICINE- HAT–Update on doorstep case (BDN v7 #23). Police search but can’t find mother. Believe she may be a transient.
Regina Leader-Post, June 12, 2007
Safe havens for babies: impressive evidence
REGINA–Letter from Mike Morrisey lecturing Canadians one success of SH. Says 4 out of 6 SHers in MA returned and signed “full-disclosure adoption contracts.” Offers to work with Canadian press to “fix misconceptions and implement a proper baby safe haven program.”
***INTERNATIONAL***
AUSTRALIA
Sydney Daily Telegraph, June 11, 2007
Runaway mums scared
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/opinion/story/0,22049,21881770-5001031,00.html
SYDNEY–Discussion of women who abandoned newborns. “It could have been a teenager who is extremely embarrassed or ashamed, there could be cultural expectations – but nobody would want to be in that situation where they feel like they have to leave a baby in a church.”
The West, June 11, 2007
Plea to abandoned baby’s mum
http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=28&ContentID=31002
SYDNEY–Update on Baby Joan case (BDN v7 #23). Officials ask mother to come forward; police concerned about mother’s welfare.
The Sydney Daily Telegraph, June 12, 2007
Baby Joan and her salvation
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,21887288-5001021,00.html
SYDNEY–Pastor Matt Beckenham who discovered Joan, hopeful that her parents will come forward. Wants to maintain contact with baby.
Sydney Morning Herald, June 12, 2007
Newborn’s body found in recycling centre
PERTH–Newborn’s corpse found at recycling plant. No details,
IRELAND
Ireland.com, June 12, 2007
Owen baby case adjourned
http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/breaking/2007/0612/breaking65.htm
DUBLIN–Update on Baby “Niamh/Noleen/Cynthia Owen case (BDN v5 #27, 28, 29, 37, v6 #6, 7, 8, 9). High Court appeal brought by Cynthia’s Owen’s family adjourns for 5 weeks. Father and sisters brought suit claiming baby wasn’t Cynthia’s. Court left open verdict since it couldn’t apportion blame.
GHANA
My Joy online, June 7, 2007
Baby abandoned
http://www.myjoyonline.com/archives/news/200706/5423.asp
KADE–Elderly woman finds newborn girl in bushes and takes her to police. Baby in stable condition.
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