Baby Dump News

BABY DUMP NEWS, August 8, 2007–V7 #32

BABY DUMP NEWS:

A WEEKLY E-CHRONICLE OF NEWBORN ABANDONMENT

INFANTICIDE,

SAFE HAVEN LEGISLATION

AND RELATED ISSUES

August 8–v7 #32

Distributed weekly by:

Marley Elizabeth Greiner, Executive Chair, Bastard Nation

maddogmarley@worldnet.att.net

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***

catch up post

THANKS: Marla

***This Week***

CALIFORNIA–Teacher questioned in death
COLORADO–Newborn left at police station
MARYLAND–Megan Patria held “responsible”
HAITI–Baby rescued from 28 foot hole
.. . and more! ***STATES***

CALIFORNIA
Kennewick (WA) Tri-City Herald, July 31, 2007
Police question Hermiston teacher in baby’s death

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/tch/local/breaking/story/9181549p-9098194c.html
ROSEVILLE–Update on Roseville recycling plant case (BDN v7 #31). Police question teacher suspected of dumping baby at garbage disposal plant. Fresno Bee, August 1, 2007
Next door to tragedy in Orosi

http://www.fresnobee.com/local/sv/story/100881.html
OROSI–Update on Nancy Ortiz case (BDN v7 #14 for references to all cases up to that date; BDN v7 #31). ). Reaction of neighbors to arrest. Maria Viruett says she noticed Ortiz seemed pregnant on occasionally and then wasn’t, but it never occurred to her that Ortiz was the serial dumper. Says it was common to see Ortiz’s 2 children wandering neighborhood unsupervised; on day of arrest her 3-year old daughter was found wandering naked 1/4 mile away from house. Ortiz lives only 2 houses away from where first baby was discovered. Timeline of case; picture. Visalia Times-Delta, August 2, 2007
Orosi mom pleads not guilty in baby abandonment

http://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070802/NEWS01/708020330
OROSI–Nancy Ortiz pleads not guilty. Review of case. Police say they had already ID’d Ortiz as the mother of Baby Angelita DeOrosi, but hadn’t planned to arrest her yet’ but decided to after her 3-year old was found wandering neighborhood. Ortiz charged with 2 counts of child abuse for abandonment and murder; child abuse and murder in death of Angelita, and child neglect for wandering child. Ortiz’s parents cooperating with authorities; police believe she hid births of first 2 infants. Former boyfriend Mario Moreno Valenzuela, 24, ID’d as father of first 2 abandoned infants and 2 older children; has long rap sheet. Comments. Picture. Visalia Times-Delta, August 6, 2007
Lessons arise from the depth of tragedy

http://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070806/OPINION01/708060328
OROSI–Review of case; police commended for good investigation. >From what has been discerned, Ortiz’s life has been a nightmare, though she should be held accountable for her actions. Sexually involved with father of children since she was 15 and possibly sexually abused; father of babies in and out of jail. “This is also a time to remember, however, that there are other families in our communities who are living the same nightmare. They live daily with the consequences of dysfunctional families, substance abuse, child and spouse and sexual abuse and the despair that arises from ignorance and loneliness. They deserve our compassion. They also deserve our commitment to build a society where children are kept safe from harm.” Comments. Visalia Times-Delta, August 8, 2007
$1 million bail for defendant in newborn-abandonment

http://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070808/NEWS01/70808015/-1/NEWS06
OROSI–Bond for Nancy Ortiz set at $1million. Preliminary set for Sept. 25. Comments. COLORADO
Colorado Springs Gazette, August 4, 2007
New! Baby is left at Springs police station

http://www.gazette.com/articles/police_25658___article.html/lux_mother.html
COLORADO SPRINGS–Newborn girl in cardboard box left at Stetson Hills police station. Police say even though there is a SH law, people should not think that the police wouldn’t help them.

KKTV-TV, Colorado Springs/Pueblo, August 5, 2007

Safe Haven laws rules in question

http://www.kktv.com/home/headlines/8954977.html

COLORADO SPRINGS–Police stations not drop-offs under CO law, but police decide to not actively try to locate mother.

KJCT-TV, Grand Junction, August 7, 2007
Newborn abandoned at Colorado Springs police station doing well
COLORADO SPRINGS–Baby is doing well, but police concerned about condition of mother.
http://kjct8.com/Global/story.asp?S=6896567

KKTV-TV, Colorado Springs, August 8, 2007
Family of safe haven baby shares their story

http://www.kktv.com/news/headlines/9047072.html
COLORADO SPRINGS–Question whether new baby will fall under SH provisions. Comments from adoptive parents of 2-year old Conrad, SH in Denver when mother dropped him off at hospital. “I said if I could wave my magic wand I would want a mother to come into the hospital and drop-off a baby boy with no drugs or alcohol in his system and walk away. The social worker looked at me and said that doesn’t happen.” says Conrad’s adoptive mother. But months later, it did. “Such immense feeling of gratitude to that mother for first of all choosing life for a child that has now brought my husband and I enormous amounts of joy.” FLORIDA
Melbourne Florida Today, August 6, 2007

http://www.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070806/BREAKINGNEWS/70806058/1086

DAVIE–Hours-old baby girl dropped off at fire station; no details. Comments.

MARYAND
MSNBC-TV, August 1, 2007

Officials face big challenges in dead infants case

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20075994/
OCEAN CITY–Update on Christy Freeman case (BDN v7 #31). Feature on problems of investigating 4 suspected infanticides; will take months to sift through evidence. Also discusses 2005 law meant to penalize those who kill a pregnant woman or her viable fetus, which may be used by prosecution against Freeman, though it exempts women who have abortions. Picture. Washington Post, August 3, 2007
Teen found responsible in death of newborn son

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/02/AR2007080202315.html

ARNOLD–Update on Megan Patria case (BDN v5 #50; v6 #7, 19; v7 #5, 7. 30).Patria “found responsible” (equivalent of “found guilty” in juvenile court) Sentencing set for Aug. 31 after psychiatric and psychological evaluation. Will remain in community detention or house arrest until next court date. Washington Times, August 3, 2007
Mother charged with drowning newborn in toilet

http://washingtontimes.com/article/20070803/METRO/108030059/1004
OCEAN CITY–Murder charge against Christy Freeman dropped; replaced with charge of giving birth to a live baby and allowing it to drown in toilet. New charges not explained. Baltimore Sun, August 4, 2007
Experts say infant killings not rare

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-md.neonaticide04aug04,0,7654112.story
BALTIMORE–Comments from neonaticide scholars, Cheryl Meyer, Wendy Lane, and Neil S. Kaye. Meyer says that mothers who kill their newborns have spent so much time denying they are pregnant that there is no motive–because in their minds there is no baby. MASSACHUSETTS
Allston/Brighton TAB, August 2, 2007
Editorial: Kudos to Baby Safe Haven extension

http://www.townonline.com/allston/opinion/x225114856
BRIGHTON–Editorial in support of SH permanency. “We urge those who have it in their power to do so to educate young people not only about sexuality and birth control but about the options that are available to them should a pregnancy results despite all precautions.” Cape Cod Online, com, August 7, 2007
Safe Haven law stays on books

http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070807/NEWS/708070325
BOSTON–Legislature makes SH law permanent. Mike Morrisey and DDS spokesperson Donna Montiero claim in all 6 SH cases mothers gave authorities their babies’ medical histories and family information. Officials wait at least a month after a SH case to publicize it so the publicity “won’t scare away way the next new mother.” Morrisey and Monterio claim at least 35 girls have called hotline, staffed with emergency medical technicians and paramedics to come up with pregnancy plans. Morrisey says “positive results” disprove Bastard Nation arguments against SH. Lexington Winchester, Star, August 8, 2007
Web Exclusive: Babies deserve “safe haven”

http://www.townonline.com/winchester/opinion/x2110140193
WINCHESTER–Commentary by Rep. Paul Casey on SH law permanency and his support for it. PENNSYLVANIA
CrimeBlog,US August 1, 2007
Stella’s attic

http://crimeblog.us/?p=516
GAILITZEN–Long feature on Stella Williamson, upon whose death in 1980, the bodies of 5 murdered babies were found. Comments.

***INTERNATIONAL***

CHINA
Malaysia Star, August 2, 2007
Baby girl saviors

http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2007/8/2/lifefocus/18448449&sec=lifefocus
CHENG-MAI COUNTY–Feature on Sun Quing-rong and husband who have rescued 14 abandoned girls and raised them as their own. Rescued first baby 19-years ago when a hospital worker she met on the road handed her a girl telling her to adopt it, give it away, or throw her out. “I was horrified, A baby is not a chicken or a dog, how can we just throw it away?” She and husband, Yao Yide, a scrap collector have taken in 13 other babies; some in poor health died. Couple is illiterate and insists that daughters get education. Currently 5 girls live with them and friends have either adopted or are helping take care of 6 others. After story about them appeared in papers last year, county decided to built them 2-storey home ENGLAND
Sunday Guardian, August 5, 2007
Desperately seeking mum

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,2141929,00.html
LONDON–Feature on Mark Gilliam, 41, abandoned in lavatory at age of 2 months. Birth certificate states place of birth, “Found on The Pavement, Clapham.” Didn’t know he was adopted until he was 18; only recently began search for biological family. “It was like everyone had a secret and it was my secret, but I was the only one who did not know it.” FIJI
Radio Fiji, August 2, 2007
Investigations intensify for newborns found recently

http://www.radiofiji.com.fj/fullstory.php?id=2441
LABASSA/TEVEUNI–Police query health centers and hospitals on identities of mothers of newborns found dead recently. In Labassa an elderly fisherman spotted newborn floating down Lalbass River. On Taveuni a housewife found a newborn dumped on ground beside home. Autopsies confirm both babies born healthy; one died from chest injury; other from exposure. Fiji Times, August 8, 2007
Single mums are one of us

http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=68084
SUVA–Long feature on neonaticide in Fiji; committed by single and married women. Single women usually want to hide shame, rejection and lack of family support; married women kill due to unplanned pregnancy or financial difficulties. Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre, police, and a psychotherapist agree that society has important part to play in accepting single mothers. Because of Fijian communal society, shame of non-marital pregnancy extends to extended family. Self-reliance and independence need to be taught along with responsibility so people can access services early instead of resorting to murder. Picture. HAITI
CBN, August 5, 2007
Abandoned baby rescued for 30-foot hole

http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/207418.aspx
JACMEL–Feature on rescue of newborn Baby Cristela Belle by 15-year old Haitian boy, UN soldier, and Sri Lankan soldiers; baby dropped into 28 foot deep commode hole by the mother. Picture. INDIA
Times of India, August 2, 2007
Mother of “stabbed” baby traced

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Mumbai/Mother_of_stabbed_baby_traced/articleshow/2249501.cms
MUMBAI–Update on stabbed baby (BDN v7 #31). 19-year old mother of baby now called Prince located. Says her mother abandoned infant because they are too poor to feed it. Stab wounds may have been caused by pieces of wire and broken glass. Calcutta Telegraph, August 3, 2007
Cast-off’s cab ride

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070804/asp/bengal/story_8148414.asp
NEW DELHI–Newborn wrapped in plastic bag abandoned in taxi. Next passenger didn’t notice it and was discovered by 3rd passenger. Police believe shabbily dressed couple who got off at Hazra Law College left baby. Picture. CNN-IBN Live, August 8, 2007
Baby abandoned thrice for testing HIV reactive

http://www.ibnlive.com/news/baby-abandoned-thrice-for-testing-hiv-reactive/46424-3.html
NEW DELHI–Kritka, now 13 days old, abandoned by mother in auto rickshaw as soon as she was born; moved into hands of poor childless couple who gave her to a “medical representative” because she tested HIV reactive, and now taken to NGO for care. Doctors says there is fair chance she is not HIV+. Picture. MALAWI
Daily Times, August 8, 2007
Teenage girl in for infanticide

http://www.dailytimes.bppmw.com/article.asp?ArticleID=6080
NSANJE–Flora Willy, 19, student at Magochi Community Day Secondary School arrested for allegedly killing newborn. Village women saw her throw away a “package.” became suspicious, and investigated. Willy was reportedly afraid of mother’s anger and the responsibility of raising a baby after the father, an older man in the village, deserted her. SOUTH AFRICA
i0l.com, August 2, 2007
Newborn baby found in pit toilet

http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=15&art_id=nw20070802190726116C503013
MPUMALANGA–26-year old mother arrested for murder after she allegedly dumped newborn baby in pit latrine. Body discovered by woman’s in-laws; reportedly confessed to sister-in-law. iol.com, August 8, 2007
Another baby dies in pit toilet

http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=15&art_id=vn20070808024237651C875362
DURBAN–Father finds body of newborn in pit toilet; mother says she was not aware that she was about to give birth. Police force her to god down in toilet to rescue baby, but it was dead. Father says he became suspicious when woman’s stomach was suddenly small. 3rd baby dumped in pit toilets in KwaZulu-Natal in recent months.