NORWALK, Iowa — The Norwalk Fire Department will soon have Iowa’s third Safe Haven Baby Box, according to the department.
“We had a tragic event happen here in the community a couple years ago in February that did result in the loss of a newborn. This is our effort to ensure that something like that doesn’t happen again within our community,” said Fire Chief Jennifer Porter.
In March 2023, Norwalk Police found a newborn baby dead in a ditch on Delaware Avenue. Police initially charged the baby’s mother, Megan Staude, and grandfather, Rodney Staude, of first-degree murder. Since then, Megan has pled guilty to second-degree murder and a judge ruled Rodney was incompetent to stand trial.
Chief Porter said conversations about installing a baby box in Norwalk began after the newborn’s murder.
In Iowa, people can anonymously leave newborns up to 90-days-old in baby boxes so they can be found and cared for. The Fort Dodge Fire Department and MercyOne Hospital in Des Moines currently have Safe Haven Baby Boxes.