The Dothan Police initiated an investigation on Thursday, August 24, after receiving a notification from medical professionals at Southeast Health about a woman and her family who were searching for a baby that she allegedly left at the hospital on August 13, 2023. According to the woman, she left the baby with one of the hospital’s employees in the lobby.
As per the Dothan Police, Jakayla Ashanti Williams, an 18-year-old mother, informed the staff that she had delivered a baby boy at her residence on Tate Drive’s 1100 Block. However, she dropped the newborn off at the hospital, claiming that she did not desire to keep the child and that taking care of a baby costs a lot of money. According to the authorities, William’s family was unaware of her pregnancy and the delivery until Wednesday, August 23.
As a seasoned law enforcement officer with over twenty-seven years of experience, I have been exposed to various cases and incidents, but none as appalling as this one. The sheer horror of it is beyond words and has the ability to shake one to the core. The fact that the mother was aware that she could leave her newborn at the hospital without any repercussions under Alabama law makes the situation even more heart-wrenching.
Chief William Benny disclosed during a press conference on Thursday evening that his officers arrived at the apartment complex and discovered a dumpster equipped with a trash compactor. After meticulously searching through the debris at the Dothan City Landfill, they discovered the remains of the infant, which were wrapped in a mattress protector and placed inside a duffel bag that was zipped shut.
The authorities sent the body of the newborn to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences in Montgomery for confirmation of its identity as the missing baby.
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