Idaho woman, 18, arrested after dead infant found in Safe Haven Baby Box at a hospital

An 18-year-old woman from Idaho, Angel N. Newberry, was recently arrested for allegedly dropping a deceased baby into a Safe Haven Baby Box at a local hospital. According to Blackfoot Police, Newberry was taken into custody on an arrest warrant for failing to report the death of the baby to law enforcement officials and the coroner. She was subsequently booked into the Bingham County Jail.

The Safe Haven Baby Box is a mechanism that allows parents to safely and anonymously surrender a newborn baby who is under 30 days old without facing any legal repercussions, as long as the child is unharmed. However, leaving a harmed or deceased infant in the box is not protected under the law.

Newberry’s arrest follows an investigation that was initiated after police responded to a report on October 13 regarding a deceased baby left in the baby box at Grove Creek Medical Center. Safe Haven Baby Boxes confirmed that the hospital staff promptly responded to an alarm indicating the presence of a baby in the box, but unfortunately, the infant had already passed away before being placed inside.

Monica Kelsey, the founder of Safe Haven Baby Boxes, expressed deep sorrow over the incident, emphasizing that this was an illegal and deadly abandonment. Anonymity is only permitted when an infant is safely surrendered completely unharmed. She disclosed that when the baby was placed in the box, she was wrapped in a blanket with the placenta still attached.

Due to the ongoing investigation and the potential for additional criminal charges, the police have limited the information they can release to the public. Blackfoot Police collaborated with Twin Falls Police in conducting the investigation.

The baby box at Grove Creek Medical Center was installed in July, making it the first of its kind in Idaho where parents can safely and anonymously surrender newborns. This initiative aims to provide a safe alternative for parents who are unable to care for their newborns, ensuring that the infants are unharmed and healthy upon surrender.

The sensitive nature of this case underscores the importance of following proper procedures when it comes to surrendering infants in need. The tragic outcome of this incident serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of illegal and unsafe abandonment of newborns.