Las Cruces woman charged with intentional child abuse resulting in death of newborn
A Las Cruces woman has been charged with intentional child abuse resulting in death after police say she gave birth in a portable toilet and disposed of the newborn.
Police say 38-year-old gave birth in portable toilet at Burn Lake and disposed of baby girl in holding tank
Organ Mountain News report
LAS CRUCES - Las Cruces police have arrested a woman accused of intentionally causing the death of a newborn baby girl after giving birth in a portable toilet near Burn Lake.
Sonia Cristal Jimenez, 38, is charged with one felony count of intentional child abuse resulting in death, a first-degree felony.
Police said hospital staff contacted officers about 10:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7, after Jimenez arrived at Memorial Medical Center and appeared to have recently delivered a baby, but the newborn was not with her.
Investigators learned Jimenez and her boyfriend had been at Burn Lake earlier that evening and that Jimenez had used a portable toilet at the site. Officers responded to the area and located the newborn inside the holding tank of a portable toilet. The baby girl was pronounced dead.
According to police, investigators believe Jimenez gave birth in the portable toilet and placed the newborn in the holding tank.
An autopsy conducted Monday by the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator determined the baby was alive at birth, police said.
Investigators obtained a warrant for Jimenez’s arrest. She was taken into custody Wednesday morning and booked into the Doña Ana County Detention Center, where she is initially being held without bond.
Police said Jimenez’s boyfriend is not expected to face charges in the case.
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