15-year-old mom of discarded baby to be prosecuted
By Kat Russell, Reporter
The Paducah Sun
August 15, 2015
http://www.paducahsun.com/news/local/081515_PS_Mother_Charged
A 15-year-old, who was earlier identified as the mother of an infant found in a dumpster two weeks ago, was arrested Friday and charged with complicity to attempted murder, first-degree child abuse and tampering with physical evidence.
McCracken County Sheriff Jon Hayden said the girl was picked up around 11 a.m. at a Paducah residence on a “juvenile pick up order,” which is similar to an arrest warrant that would be issued for an adult suspect.
Hayden said the girl was brought to the sheriff’s department where she was “interviewed and was cooperative.” She was then taken to the McCracken County Juvenile Detention Center.
The girl’s arrest comes nearly two weeks after a 17-year-old male accused of discarding the infant in the dumpster was arrested and charged with attempted murder, first-degree criminal abuse and tampering with physical evidence.
The sheriff said he could not comment on whether the girl knew what the boy was going to do with the child.
The baby was discovered in a dumpster behind Fernwood Apartment near Lone Oak and Berger Roads on July 30 after a witness stated he had seen a male place an item in the dumpster.
Believing the situation to be suspicious, the witness waited for him to leave the area, went to see what was discarded, discovered the infant and called law enforcement.
Later that night, emergency personnel responded to a call for a medical emergency at a residence near Berger Road and Goodman Drive, not far from the dumpster.
They found a 15-year-old who had given birth hours earlier. Believing the girl could be the infant’s mother, the sheriff’s office was contacted to investigate.
Hayden confirmed the girl was the baby’s mother, and said facts gleaned from that investigation led to the arrest of the 17-year-old male the next morning.
The boy was taken to the sheriff’s department where during an interview he admitted to discarding the baby, said McCracken Detective Capt. Matt Carter, one of the investigators.
The baby was taken to a hospital. Hayden said earlier this week the chid is “doing well” and has been released to social services.
Hayden said he could not comment on whether the arrested boy was the baby’s father, but did said DNA testing had been ordered.
On Tuesday, following the boy’s arrest, Assistant County Attorney Jamie Mills met with the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office to discuss transferring the case to adult court.
County Attorney Sam Clymer said he and the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office agreed the case warrants transfer.
A confidential transfer hearing is scheduled for Monday in juvenile court. If the judge agrees, the boy’s case will be sent to a McCracken grand jury for indictment.
As for the girl, Clymer said Mills met with the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office Friday afternoon and they agreed to pursue transferring her case to adult court as well.
A closed detention hearing for the girl will be held on Monday. Clymer said Mills will ask the judge to schedule a transfer hearing.
Contact Kat Russell, a Paducah Sun staff writer, at 270-575-8653.
McCracken County Sheriff Jon Hayden said the girl was picked up around 11 a.m. at a Paducah residence on a “juvenile pick up order,” which is similar to an arrest warrant that would be issued for an adult suspect.
Hayden said the girl was brought to the sheriff’s department where she was “interviewed and was cooperative.” She was then taken to the McCracken County Juvenile Detention Center.
The girl’s arrest comes nearly two weeks after a 17-year-old male accused of discarding the infant in the dumpster was arrested and charged with attempted murder, first-degree criminal abuse and tampering with physical evidence.
The sheriff said he could not comment on whether the girl knew what the boy was going to do with the child.
The baby was discovered in a dumpster behind Fernwood Apartment near Lone Oak and Berger Roads on July 30 after a witness stated he had seen a male place an item in the dumpster.
Believing the situation to be suspicious, the witness waited for him to leave the area, went to see what was discarded, discovered the infant and called law enforcement.
Later that night, emergency personnel responded to a call for a medical emergency at a residence near Berger Road and Goodman Drive, not far from the dumpster.
They found a 15-year-old who had given birth hours earlier. Believing the girl could be the infant’s mother, the sheriff’s office was contacted to investigate.
Hayden confirmed the girl was the baby’s mother, and said facts gleaned from that investigation led to the arrest of the 17-year-old male the next morning.
The boy was taken to the sheriff’s department where during an interview he admitted to discarding the baby, said McCracken Detective Capt. Matt Carter, one of the investigators.
The baby was taken to a hospital. Hayden said earlier this week the chid is “doing well” and has been released to social services.
Hayden said he could not comment on whether the arrested boy was the baby’s father, but did said DNA testing had been ordered.
On Tuesday, following the boy’s arrest, Assistant County Attorney Jamie Mills met with the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office to discuss transferring the case to adult court.
County Attorney Sam Clymer said he and the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office agreed the case warrants transfer.
A confidential transfer hearing is scheduled for Monday in juvenile court. If the judge agrees, the boy’s case will be sent to a McCracken grand jury for indictment.
As for the girl, Clymer said Mills met with the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office Friday afternoon and they agreed to pursue transferring her case to adult court as well.
A closed detention hearing for the girl will be held on Monday. Clymer said Mills will ask the judge to schedule a transfer hearing.
Contact Kat Russell, a Paducah Sun staff writer, at 270-575-8653.