HENDERSON, Ky (WEHT) – Officials with Safe Haven Baby Boxes are speaking out after a deceased infant was placed into one of their boxes in Idaho.
Officials state Grove Creek Medical Center staff immediately responded, but upon removing the infant, they quickly realized the infant had passed away long before being placed in the box.
Officials say due to law, it was not a legal surrender.
“We are heartbroken,” said founder Monica Kelsey. “Let this be clear: this is an illegal, deadly abandonment. 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. As the only organization that provides an anonymous surrender option, we are on the front lines of educating the public on how this program works. We will continue to educate citizens on the stark differences between illegal abandonment and legal, safe surrender of an unharmed newborn.”