BABY DUMP NEWS, November 21, 2007–v7 #47
November 21, 2007 – 8:31 am
BABY DUMP NEWS:
A WEEKLY E-CHRONICLE OF NEWBORN ABANDONMENT
INFANTICIDE,
SAFE HAVEN LEGISLATION
AND RELATED ISSUES
November 21, 2007–v7 #47
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 and www.myspace.com/maddogmarley
ANNOUNCEMENT:
I have been traveling and am once more attempting to catch up
***THIS WEEK***
FLORIDA–Wife takes baby to fire station; father attempts to retrieve him
GEORGIA–Newborn found in book bag at hospital
PENNSYLVANIA–Woman offers to recive baabies from “desperate mothers”
TEXAS–Susan Chiniewicz guilty of negligent homicide
SASKATCHEWAN–Publication ban lifted Wal-mart case
…and more!
***STATES***
CALIFORNIA
North Coast Times, November 15, 2007
(no longer on server)
ESCONDIDO–Workers find body of newborn on trash conveyor belt at recycling plant; believed to be white or Latino at 34 weeks. 182 SH cases since law went into effect. Picture.
San Diego Union-Tribune, November 16, 2007
No answers in discovery of newborn’s body
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/northcounty/20071116-9999-7m16baby.html
ESCONDIDO–Police receive many tips, but have not ID’d mother. Comments.
FLORIDA
ABC-TV, Tampa, November 15, 2007
Baby boy left at Lake Wales Fire Department
http://www.abcactionnews.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=5cbdd652-15d8-446e-bb1f-128ed451c86e
LAKE WALES–Baby left at fire station. Note left with him says he was born Oct. 22. Appears in good health.
Lakeland Ledger, November 16, 2007
Woman leaves baby at fire station
http://www.theledger.com/article/20071116/NEWS/711160401/1004/News
LAKE WALES–More details of above case. Woman “looking confused’ brought baby to fire station in a car seat, with plastic Wal-Mart bags and supplies. “Technically” ‘law applies to infants 3 days old or younger, but Nick Silverio says it would be unusual for parents to be prosecuted over age restriction. Mother praised. Picture.
Lakeland Ledger, November 17, 2007
Parents want to reclaim abandoned baby
http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071116/NEWS/71116024/1039
LAKE WALES–Parents attempt to reclaim baby. Case now in hands of Florida Division of Children and Families. No charges expected to be filed. Police report that father, 32, “did not know his wife had any intention of giving up custody of the infant” and appeared to be extremely angry with his wife. During private interview mother, 29 said she had 2 other children and the baby was “too much for her.” Picture.
MyFox 13-TV, Tampa, November 17, 2007
An unusual “safe haven” situation
LAKE WALES–Even though father wants to reclaim baby, it must stay in state custody. Adoption attorney Jeanne Trudeau Tate says that once a parent has given up a child, they have to go through a judge to get him back, “The question is, does [the father] have a right to step forth? Yes. Does that mean he automatically gets the child back? No. The court still has to determine it’s in the child’s best interest and that his actions have not created a situation where his parental rights should be terminated. Picture.
GEORGIA
Catoosa County News, November 16, 2007
Mother sentenced to probation in infant death case
CATOOSA COUNTY–Update on Jennifer Kay Donaldson case (BDB v4 #29. Donaldson sentenced to 12 years probation and 200 hours of community service in July 2004 death of newborn. Psychologist testifies that Donaldson was in dissociative state when she gave birth and a few days afterward.
WSB-TV, Atlanta, November 20, 2007
Baby abandoned at DeKalb hospital
http://www.wsbtv.com/news/14652908/detail.html
DEKALB COUNTY–Special Victims Unit looking for mother who abandoned newborn at hospital. Another patient found the baby, left unattended for about 2 hours, in leather book bag. Under state’s SH law, baby must be turned over in person. Picture.
Atlanta Journal-Constitution, November 21, 2007
Newborn abandoned at DeKalb hospital
http://www.ajc.com/news/content/metro/dekalb/stories/2007/11/21/babyfound_1121.html
DEKALB COUNTY–Police say they don’t plan to file charges if mother is located; “she tried to do the right thing.” Description of mother.
NEW YORK
Newsday, November 20, 2007
Mom found guilty of causing newborn baby’s ‘death
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/crime/ny-libaby205468887nov20,0,4520887.story
MINEOLA–Update on Baby Nicholas Hope/Erma Stephens case (BDN v6 #48, 49, 50; v7 #45). In bench trial, Stephens convicted of 2nd degree manslaughter and tampering with physical evidence; acquitted of murder.
NORTH CAROLINA
ABC 11, November 20, 2007
Foster parents of abandoned baby want new laws
http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=triangle&id=5772270
WENDELL–Update on Michelle Richardson case (BDN v6 #49, 5; v7 #4, 17-18). Baby, Cory Richardson,abandoned at McDonald’s shortly after birth, returned to mother, grandmother and stepgrandfather. Richardson has previously safe havened twins and placed 3 other children for adoption. Cory’s fosters parents, Brian and Amy Lewis, Richardson’s 2nd cousins, and Richardson’s father Dale Weathers complain to press that new laws are needed to protect Cory and othesr like him. Weathers says, Richardson “had several chances. Multiple pregnancies and multiple adoptions shows there’s a problem.” State refuses to comment, but legislators looking into issue. Pictures.
PENNSYLVANIA
PennLive, November 13, 2007
Mom , who won’t be charged, had better options for safe haven
(no longer on server)
PENBROOK–Update on Abington case (BDN v7 #46). Teen mom who left baby on doorstep won’t be prosecuted; police claim she rang doorbell and watched his retrieval from a hiding place. 5 SH cases in state since law went into effect (Adams, Blair, Clarion, Clearfield, York counties.) Linda Veno,, Lower Paxton Twn. founder of Mother’s Love Foundation, says people tell her they’d be afraid to leave babies in busy place that has security cameras. Veno tried to establish Baskets of Life program in local Catholic Churches but ran into liability issues. Says she will personally accept a baby from “a desperate mother” and offers cell phone number. Picture. Comments
Harrisburg Patriot News, November 16, 2007
Spread the word
(archives registration)
Editorial in support of SH. Says Penbrook mother’s actions “were in line” with SH law.
Philadelphia Daily News, November 17, 2007
Baby could have had haven
http://www.philly.com/dailynews/local/20071117_Baby_could_have_had_haven.html
PHILADELPHIA–Puff piece on SH. “It’s a difficult thing for us to determine the success of this program,” says Dept. of Public Welfare spokesperson, Stacey Wita-lec. “Do we want to see it used more often because people are abandoning babies?”
TEXAS
Dallas Morning News, November 11, 2007
Fireman finds newborn boy at station
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/APStories/stories/D8SRKTFO1.html
WESTALAKE–Firefighter Victor Scrivens, finds baby about 30 minutes old near air conditioning unit at Westlake VFD. Baby in good condition and placed in care of CPS.
Houston Chronicle, November 14, 2007
A parent’s hard choice
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/falkenberg/5303179.html
HOUSTON–Commentary by Lisa Fallkenberg on Westlake case. Concerned that mother could face criminal charges because baby was exposed to elements and not handed over personally to firefighters. Retraces steps to see if spot seemed too hidden or dangerous. Believes mother did not mean harm to child since she left it at a spot where people regularly abandon dogs cats, and other animals. Points out that abandoner called FD to report left baby 5-6 hours after it was found. Because SH law wasn’t strictly adhered to CPS will try to locate mother to determine if a relative can care for baby. SH author Rep. Geanie Morrison believes there should be room for “compassion and discretion” in interpretation of law. “Morrison and CPS official say the Baby Moses law has encouraged more mothers to abandon babies near hospitals and fire stations, even if most stop short of entering the facilities and handing over the baby safely to a person. We need to do everything possible to encourage these mothers to take that extra step. We shouldn’t do anything that scares them further way.” Comments.
McKinney Courier-Gazette,, November 15, 2007
Chiniewicz trial focuses on expert’s testimony
http://www.courier-gazette.com/articles/2007/11/17/the_colony_courier-leader/news/a-newstc94.txt
BRYAN—Update on Susan Chiniewicz case (BDN v 5 #41; v6 #15, 1, 17, 18; v 7 #7, 22, 45, 46). Jonathan Arden, former chief ME for Washington, DC, testifies that baby appeared dead at time of birth. Describes pathology report as “seriously deficient” because it didn’t note the texture of baby’s lungs which would determine if baby breathed. Prosecution suggests he misinterpreted microscopic photos and disagreed with other findings. Chiniewwicz declines to testify.
KETK-TV, Longview, November 15, 2007
Baby Moses law
http://www.ketknbc.com/home/ticker/11557181.html
TYLER–According to Dan McLean, investigator for CPS over 100 babies are abandoned in state every year (no mention of how many are newborns). Of those, 15-20 are found dead. More than 60 babies SH in Texas.
McKinney Courier-Leader, November 20, 2007
Mom guilty baby’s death
http://www.courier-gazette.com/articles/2007/11/20/the_colony_courier-leader/news/a-newstc87.txt
BRYAN–Susan Chiniewicz convicted of criminally negligent homicide; sentenced to 2 years in prison and $10.000 fine. Released pending appeal. Originally indicted for capital murder. Prosecution claims she had been pregnant 3 times out of wedlock after her husband’s 2000 vasectomy. Witnesses said she was at strip club sitting, with skirt pulled up, on lap of man she later accused of raping her and fathering child.
KWTX-TV, Waco, November 21, 2007
Woman arrested in death of newborn free on bond
http://www.kwtx.com/home/headlines/11722136.html
LOTT–Former prison guard Khalilha Baucom accused of giving birth in motel bathrub and then stuffing full-term baby in toilet tank free on bond. Picture.
Houston Chronicle, Novemner 21, 2007
CPS need help in search for little boy’s family
(no longer online)
WESTLAKE–Baby left at fire station, now named Mathew John Scrivens, makes media debut in attempt to find mother. “Public pleas have had mixed results. In some cases, mothers have assisted CPS with an abandoned baby’s health information and verified that they have no desire to keep the baby. In other cases, some mothers, particularly younger ones who thought they would have no one to help them raise the child, have contacted CPS to let the agency know that they can care for the abandoned baby.”
***CANADA***
NEW BRUNSWICK
The Canadian Press, November 21, 2007
Psychiaaaatrist says NB woman clearly planned burning of infant’s body
http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5hp7EQttdC6vbHrULu57CPnXGNVXQ
ST. STEPHEN– Defense psychiatrist testifies that Becky Sue Morrow, 27, isn’t criminally responsible in death of newborn because of a mental disassociation. Morrow earlier pled guilty to “offering an indignity to a newborn” by chopping up and disposing of body in a firepit. Ppprosecution psychiatrist disagrees says she had “insight” and knew exactly what she was doing and was “thinking clearly.”
ONTARIO
CBC News, November 21, 2007
Experts say pathologist overstepped his authority in determining cause of death
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2007/11/21/goudge-inquiry.html
TORONTO–Expert panel says Dr. Charles Smith exceeded his role of pathologist when he investigated suspicious deaths of children, including “Baby F” who died shortly after birth. Smith allegedly offered options he couldn’t back up..
QUEBEC
Montreal Gazette, November 15, 2007
Newborn abandoned in Ville Emard
MONTREAL–Newborn found in apartment basement; 18-year old mother, living in buillding, located living
Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, November 15, 2007
Teen guilty of baby’s death
ST. JEROME–Update on woods baby case (BDN v6 #45, 46, 49) 17-year old who abandoned baby in wooded lot north of Montreal,last year pleads down to manslaughter; will be sentenced next April
SASKATCHEWAN
Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, November 20, 2007
Judge lifts ban on identifying mom in abandonment case
PRINCE ALBERT–Update on Wal-Mart case (BDN v7 #21, 22, 35, 36, 38, 45, 46). Judge rejects government’s application to ban publication of name of Deborah Dawn Halkett, mother who delivered baby in Wal-Mart toilet. CPS argued that mother’s ID would automatically ID child, which would cause serious harm, prejudice and stigma to child. Judge says he doubts identification would have any meaning to child in future and that circumstances of his birth will have to be explained to him eventually. Star-Phoenix editor, Steve Gibb, happy with decision. “We are the eyes and ears of the public…We stand up for the public’s right to know. We represent them, essentially. It’s important our agency provide that role. We do the same with government and the administration of tax dollars. Prince Albert Daily Herald editor agrees, saying it was a freedom of the press issue.
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