BABY DUMP NEWS, October 17, 2007–v7 #42
October 17, 2007 – 8:57 am
BABY DUMP NEWS:
A WEEKLY E-CHRONICLE OF NEWBORN ABANDONMENT
INFANTICIDE,
SAFE HAVEN LEGISLATION
AND RELATED ISSUES
October 17, 2007–v7 #42
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 and www.myspace.com/maddogmarley
***ANNOUNCEMENT***
Due to attending back-to-back conferences BDN is off schedule once again. I have broken the newsletter into 2 parts to match the original publication dates. Things should be back to normal soon.
***THIS WEEK***
ALABAMA–Schools scheduled for SH lit drop
NEBRASKA–Omaha signs on to SH resolution
NEW JERSEY–Parents charged in hospital drop-off of neglected infant
SOUTH CAROLINA–Newborn left in medical office restroom
ONTARIO–82-year old Baby Kintyre buried
ENGLAND–Newborn found on doorstep
…and more!
***STATES***
ALABAMA
WVTM-TV, Birmingham, October 15, 2007
300,000 safe haven law pamphlets going to Alabama high schools
http://www.nbc13.com/gulfcoastwest/vtm/news.apx.-content-articles-VTM-2007-10-15-0009.html
BIRMINGHAM–State will distribute 300,000 SH pamphlets. Gov. Bob Riley says being young and scared is no excuse for baby abandonment.
CALIFORNIA
Lodi News, October 12, 2007
Rescued newborn released from hospital
http://www.lodinews.com/articles/2007/10/12/news/2_baby_071012.txt
LODI–Update on Jessica Gonzalez case (BDN v7 #41). Baby first thought to be dead released to foster care doing well. Child endangerment charges will probably not apply since baby wasn’t born yet when Gonzalez, who has 2 drug convictions, ingested drugs. Gonzalez has 2 other children not in her custody. Comments.
San Francisco Chronicle, October 15, 2007
Gov. signs bills to track bullets, ban toxic toys
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/10/15/BAKQSPVS9.DTL&tsp=1
SACRAMENTO–Schwartzenegger vetoes AB 81 to extend SH from 72 horus to 10 days. Veto message: http://gov.ca.gov/pdf/press/2007bills/AB%2081%20Veto%20Message.pdf : “Experts have raised concerns that instead of improving child safely, increasing the time that a baby may be surrendered from 72 hours will put newborns in greater risk by keeping them in an unsafe environment without proper care and supervision.”
NEBRASKA
Omaha-Herald, October 16, 2007
Omaha councilman pushes for safe haven legislation
http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2798&u_sid=10158991&u_rss=1
OMAHA–Omaha Councilman Chuck Sigerson asks council to approve SH resolution. Sen. Arnie Stuthman says he’ll resume push for law next session. Sen. Ernie Chambers, who opposes, says the state could save more babies if legislature were willing to spend more money on prenatal care and food stamps.
KPTM-TV, Omaha, October 17, 2007
Omaha joins support for state (sic) haven law
http://www.kptm.com/Global/story.asp?S=7223540&nav=menu606_2
OMAHA–Omaha City Council approves unanimously SH resolution.
NEW JERSEY
Easton (PA) Express Times, October 11, 2007
Cops: Pair neglected baby
http://www.nj.com/news/expresstimes/nj/index.ssf?/base/news-6/1192075827165290.xml&coll=2
BUDD LAKE–Update on Hackettsville hospital case (BDN v7 #41). Sharon Sophia, 37 and Jeffrey Noel Acton, 38 charged with child endangerment of 5-month old daughter anonymously dropped off at Hackettsville Medical Center; held on $150.00 bond each. Couple arrested after neighbors contacted police after anonymously dropping her off at hospital. Patricia Haley says she found baby in plastic container, stuffed with bedding in an upstairs bedroom; no one home at time. Harry Trojhan, 18, who lives with Haley and her husband, Hal, took baby after Sophia returned home. Hal Haley says couple has grappled with poor health and bad finances over last few months after losing their home and business due to flooding. Sofia says baby born at home and has never seen doctor.
Newark Star- Ledger, October 12, 2007
Couple’s bail at $150,00 each
http://www.nj.com/news/expresstimes/nj/index.ssf?/base/news-6/1192162653157040.xml&coll=2
BUDD LAKE–Bond set at $150,00 each; Sharon Sophia says she has multiple sclerosis, heart failure, blood clots in her lungs, is partially blind, and has no medication.
PENNSYLVANIA
Youngstown (OH) Vindicator, October 11, 2007
Mother who abandoned baby unlikely to face criminal charges
http://www.vindy.com/content/local_regional/300548774481395.php
SHARON–Update on Baby Jane case (BDN v7 #41). Unnamed woman, 20, ID’d as mother who left baby on doorstep. Mercer County DA says investigation reveals that baby may have only been alone for a few minutes and that mother knew responsible adult would find it. No charges expected.
Solannconews. com, October 17, 2007
Law strives to offer safe place for unwanted babies, prevents abandonment
http://www.solanconews.com/Gov/Articles/2007/071017_safehaven.htm
HARRISBURG–Another reminder from PA officials about SH law; references Baby Jane case. “While we are greatly relieved to learn that the girl was unharmed, this is exactly the kind of situation that our safe haven law was designed to prevent,” says Public Welfare Sec. Estelle B Richman. “When young women are not prepared for the responsibilities of parenthood often they are afraid and unsure of where to turn for help We want them to know that there is a safe, legal and confidential option for them and their child.”
SOUTH CAROLINA
WIS-TV, Columbia, October 16, 2007
Investigators seek mother who abandoned baby in W. Columbia restroom
http://www.wistv.com/Global/story.asp?S=7227215&nav=menu36_3
WEST COLUMBIA–Police seek help from public in identifying and locating mother of newborn girl left in handicapped stall in restroom of medical office. Accompanying note said she was born at 2:30 that afternoon. “Maybe they had a baby out of wedlock. Maybe they didn’t want to be identified as having a baby . There could be a lot of reasons that baby was left, but we need to find mother and relatives of baby so we can determine what we need to do as far as care is concerned,” says, Sheriff James Metts. Doesn’t know if mother, who may have been caught on security camera, will be prosecuted. Pictures.
News 19, Greenville, October 17, 2007
Newborn baby found in Union County garbage can
http://www.wspa.com/midatlantic/spa/news.apx.-content-articles-SPA-2007-10-23-0019.html
UNION COUNTY–Body of premature girl, stuffed in purse, found in garbage can at Classic Car Wash. Picture, Comments.
***CANADA***
ONTARIO
Ottawa Citizen, October 10, 2007
$10,000 bail for woman charged in newborn’s death
OTTAWA– Angela Kuehl, 26, charged with 2nd degree murder for allegedly killing newborn son and putting in in garbage. Ordered to live at parents home, turn over passport, check in with police every week, stay in Ottawa and attend mental health counseling, and to not have contact boyfriend Gelu Gheorghe. Investigation began in April when Kuehl went to hospital suffering from complications after birth of what was believed to be stillborn baby. Body later found in garbage truck intercepted by police. Family and Gheorghe supportive.
CBC News, October 13, 2007
Mummified baby buried in emotional ceremony
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2007/10/12/babies-buried.html
RICHMOND HILLS–Update on Baby Kintyre (BDN v7 #31, 35, 40) and Baby Lief (BDN v7 #14, 35, 40) cases. Both babies buried at Elgin Mills Cemetery. CBC News obtains mental health records through FOIA request indicating that more than one of the occupants of the home where Baby Kintyre remains were found had mental health issues. In 1934 Della Russell was admitted to Ontario Hospital repeating “I’m a murderer but I can’t get away. I’m a murderer by I can’t get away.” Later diagnosed with involutional melancholia, a depressive disorder than can occur later in life. Died in 1953 at Toronto’s Queen St. Sanitarium. Husband Wesley Russell suffered from depression for 3 years starting in 1925, the year of baby’s death. Niece now 92 who lived at the address in 1925 believes Della’s sister Alla Mae Rutter may be the mother. Psychiatric historian says raving of person suffering from melancholia shouldn’t be trusted
***INTERNATIONAL***
ENGLAND
BBC News, October 15, 2007
Baby abandoned on house doorstep
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/west_midlands/7044989.stm
BIRMINGHAM–Man finds newborn on doorstep; no knock on door and no one on street; in good condition. Baby’s cord clamped, appears to show he was born with proper medical supervision. Pictures.
GHANA
Modern Ghana, October 17, 2007
Baby dumped
http://www.modernghana.com/GhanaHome/NewsArchive/news_details.asp?menu_id=1&id=VFZSUk1VMTZSVEU9
ASHAMAN–Police looking for “good Samaritan” who buried without authorization, remains of unidentified baby girl found in Gbame dam. Assemblyman for area, Abdul-Aziz Suleyman said he found body floating in river and left to report it to police When he returned he found the body had been removed and buried close to drain. Picture.
INDIA
Telegraph India, October 13, 2007
Newborn abandoned
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1071013/asp/calcutta/story_8427737.asp
BALLY–Newborn boy found near garbage dump at Ghoshpara Bazar in stable condition. Discovered by 6-year old boy who alerted his family who tended to bird wounds. Police take baby to hospital with no pediatric ward, then to another hospital where he was refused admittance due to lack of infrastructure. Finally taken to district hospital. Large number of people at Ghoshpara Bazar want to adopt him, one even offered money for him.
DNA, October 17, 2007
2-day old girl found injured and abandoned in Thane
http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1128154
THANE–2-day old girl found beneath bridge, admitted to JJ Hospital with severe injuries to lower half of body; in critical but stable condition.
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