Everett teenager charged for leaving her newborn in dumpster

EVERETT, Wash. (AP) — An 18-year-old woman has been charged with abandoning her newborn son in a dumpster in March.


The Daily Herald reports (https://goo.gl/MhTxHj ) Samantha Houston of Everett last week was charged with abandonment of a dependent person.

Police say Houston told them she gave birth March 25 and then panicked, wrapping the baby in a towel and placing him in a dumpster. Prosecutors say afterward she walked to a convenience store to get something to eat.

A passerby heard what sounded like cries coming from the dumpster at the Mirabella Apartments in the 800 block of 112th Street SE and called police. Officers found a newborn baby boy still alive in the dumpster. The infant is reportedly healthy and now in custody of Child Protective Services.

In April, police detectives received an anonymous tip "indicating that a local high-school girl was potentially the mother. The girl had been pregnant while attending school but dropped out for about a month. Upon returning, she was no longer pregnant and refused to talk with friends about what happened," the Everett Police said in a news release.

Detectives located the 18-year-old and she "admitted to giving birth on March 25th and panicked. She wrapped the newborn in a towel and walked with him outside. She stated she didn't know what to do and placed the newborn in the dumpster," the news release said.

She was booked into the Snohomish County Jail for investigation of a charge of abandonment of a dependent person. She has now been charged with that crime.

The police said the newborn, now in the custody of the state Department of Social and Health Services, is reported to be healthy.

In Washington, mothers can leave their newborns — no questions asked — with a staff member or volunteer at any fire station, rural clinic or hospital emergency room.

Click here to read an earlier Q13 News story about this case >>> Newborn baby boy found alive in Everett Dumpster