Woman Accused Of Killing Newborn, Hiding Corpse
Family Finds Baby Girl In Plastic Container
Posted: 6:40 a.m. CDT June 16, 2003Updated: 9:46 a.m. CDT June 16, 2003
RICHWOOD, Wis. -- A Richland County woman will be in court this afternoon on charges of killing her own newborn.
Kristin Scott, 22, allegedly told investigators she gave birth Jan. 14, then hid the baby in a closet.
Her family found the infant in a closet of their home in a plastic container last week, police said.
Scott faces up to 35 years in prison if she is found guilty of neglecting a child, causing death and then hiding the corpse.
Deputies traveled to Abilene, Texas, to arrest Scott, who moved there in early June.
According to the criminal complaint, investigators say Scott told them "that she did not attend to the child in any significant way. She stated that after approximately one half-hour, the child died. She stated that the child had to die, and gave various reasons why she could not care for the child."
Neighbors told News 3 they are shocked and saddened -- they didn't know what to think when they saw the sheriff's department at the home over the past few days.
One of the neighbors said he wishes the mother had just dropped the baby off at a hospital.
In Wisconsin, that's legal after a 2001 law, which allows parents to abandon babies in a safe place with no questions asked within 72 hours of birth.
A "safe place" is considered leaving the baby with a health care worker or law enforcement official.
All contact is anonymous.
A Safe Place for Newborns also has a toll-free crisis line -- (877) 404-BABY.
News 3 and Channel 3000 will have more information as it becomes available.
Kristin Scott, 22, allegedly told investigators she gave birth Jan. 14, then hid the baby in a closet.
Her family found the infant in a closet of their home in a plastic container last week, police said.
Scott faces up to 35 years in prison if she is found guilty of neglecting a child, causing death and then hiding the corpse.
Deputies traveled to Abilene, Texas, to arrest Scott, who moved there in early June.
According to the criminal complaint, investigators say Scott told them "that she did not attend to the child in any significant way. She stated that after approximately one half-hour, the child died. She stated that the child had to die, and gave various reasons why she could not care for the child."
Neighbors told News 3 they are shocked and saddened -- they didn't know what to think when they saw the sheriff's department at the home over the past few days.
One of the neighbors said he wishes the mother had just dropped the baby off at a hospital.
In Wisconsin, that's legal after a 2001 law, which allows parents to abandon babies in a safe place with no questions asked within 72 hours of birth.
A "safe place" is considered leaving the baby with a health care worker or law enforcement official.
All contact is anonymous.
A Safe Place for Newborns also has a toll-free crisis line -- (877) 404-BABY.
News 3 and Channel 3000 will have more information as it becomes available. Copyright 2003 by Channel 3000. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
