An 18-year-old woman from Idaho has been arrested after allegedly leaving a deceased infant in a Safe Haven Baby Box at a local hospital. Authorities identified the suspect as Angel N. Newberry, who was taken into custody for not reporting a death to police or the coroner. She is now being held at the Bingham County Jail.
The Safe Haven Baby Box program allows parents to surrender newborns, aged 30 days or younger, safely and anonymously, as long as the child is unharmed. However, leaving behind a harmed or deceased infant is not protected under this law.
Police began their investigation after receiving a report on October 13 about the lifeless baby found in a box at the Grove Creek Medical Center. Staff at the medical facility quickly responded to an alarm indicating a baby was placed in the box, but upon investigation, they discovered that the infant had died prior to being left there.
Monica Kelsey, founder of Safe Haven Baby Boxes, expressed her heartbreak over the incident. She clarified that the law only permits the confidential surrender of infants who are unharmed. The deceased child was found with the placenta still attached, indicating a serious and tragic situation.
Due to the ongoing investigation, police have been limited in what information they can share. Blackfoot Police are working alongside Twin Falls Police on this sensitive case.
The Safe Haven Baby Box at Grove Creek Medical Center was established in July, making it the first of its kind in Idaho, aimed at giving parents a secure option for surrendering infants in distressing circumstances.
