Angela Newberry, an 18-year-old woman in Idaho has been arrested after she allegedly left a dead newborn baby inside a Safe Haven Baby Box at the Grove Creek Medical Center in Blackfoot, Idaho last month.
The Grove Creek Medical Center which is roughly 250 miles east of Boise, is where the incident happened on October 13, 2024. A Safe Haven Baby Box, a private, safe location where parents can deposit their babies discreetly, is available at the medical facility. An alarm is set off to notify hospital personnel when a baby is placed inside.
According to a press release, Angela Newberry from Twin Falls was arrested on a felony charge for not reporting a death to the authorities and the coroner. She was arrested in Twin Falls and taken to Bingham County Jail.
What happened after Angela Newberry dropped the baby in the Safe Haven box?
On 13th October, hospital personnel at Grove Creek Medical Center responded to the Safe Haven box alarm, only to make a tragic discovery upon arrival. The baby found in the box was already deceased. The Blackfoot Police Department and Safe Haven Baby Boxes both confirmed the details of the investigation into this heartbreaking event.
The infant was removed from the box within a minute, and it became clear that the child had passed away "long before being placed in the baby box," as stated by the center.
“We are heartbroken. Let this be clear: this is an illegal, deadly abandonment.”
The above statement is attributed to Monica Kelsey, Founder of Safe Haven Baby Boxes. She continued by asserting:
“Anonymity is only allowed when an infant is safely surrendered completely unharmed. We are fully cooperating with the investigation and providing all information we possess to local authorities. When the baby was placed in the box, she was wrapped in a blanket with the placenta still attached.”
What are Safe Haven boxes?
Secure, anonymous drop-off sites known as 'Safe Haven Baby Boxes' allow anyone to lawfully and safely give up a baby without fear of legal prosecution.
Installed in a variety of places, including hospitals and fire stations, these boxes are made to keep babies safe by providing a secure substitute for abandonment.
The box is made to notify staff members as soon as a newborn is placed inside, enabling them to promptly remove the kid and make sure they are given the care they need. Within 30 days of the kid's birth, custodial parents may turn over their baby at one of the boxes without facing any legal ramifications; however, the child must be alive and unharmed.
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In Angela Newberry's case, the child had passed away long before being placed in the Safe Haven Box.
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