Complaint: Accused Baby Killer Afraid To Disclose Pregnancy

Woman Gave Birth While Parents, Sister Were Home

Posted: 3:31 pm CDT June 26, 2003Updated: 10:25 am CDT June 27, 2003

Kristin Scott, 22, will stand trial on charges of reckless homicide and hiding a corpse in connection with the baby born in January.

During a taped statement to officials, Scott said she didn't know she was pregnant until two weeks before both births.

She said she couldn't tell the fathers, and that she had the babies alone in her bedroom -- with her family in the house.

"We continually asked her, 'Does anyone know? Did you tell anybody?'" said Tom Hougan, chief deputy, in Richland County court Thursday, during Scott's preliminary hearing. "Every time we asked her those types of questions and those questions directly, she said she told nobody. Nobody knows. It was it just her, all her by herself."

Scott's public defender said the young mother was very scared.

"She may have failed to act, and that's what it seems to show from her statement, but what we have here is a scared, afraid, troubled young woman," said Rose Oliveto.

Scott faces up to 70 years in prison, and additional charges in the death of the first baby are still possible.

Prosecutors said Scott was afraid of what people would say about her pregnancy.

Scott told investigators the baby gasped for air, and even though she was a certified nursing assistant, the criminal complaint against her says Scott didn't clear the baby's airway or perform CPR because she was afraid the baby would cry out and alert her family.

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Prosecutors say Scott was afraid of what people would say if they found out about the pregnancy.

Prosecutors issued the amended complaint shortly before the preliminary hearing.

Not Everyone Knows They Can Legally Abandon Baby To Officials

The DA said it's tragic that Scott didn't take advantage of a state law designed to keep unwanted newborns safe, but getting the word out about the program to desperate parents continues to be a challenge, News 3 reports.

A crying newborn can be overwhelming for some new parents. Keeping babies alive and healthy and avoiding abandonment and death is the aim of the 2-year-old state law.

"It's senseless," said Helen Healy, founder of a Safe Place For Newborns. "It's just a senseless tragedy. That does not need to happen. Parents have an alternative in Wisconsin."

The mother of five lobbied at the Capitol for a statewide Safe Place for Newborns law. Despite her efforts and the new law, getting the word out to frightened pregnant women remains a problem.

Under the law, a baby may be surrendered anonymously within 72 hours of birth. Babies may be given to hospitals, police officers or emergency medical technicians.

"We know that eight babies have been saved as a direct result of this legislation," Healy said.

Meriter has a model newborn program, said Sherry Quamme, emergency services director.

"Our program has been used across the state by other hospitals," she said.

Meriter not only leads the state in training professionals on the law, the hospital is working to get the message out with posters strategically placed in hospital restrooms.

"About four or five cases a year happen right here in Wisconsin, and we want to be out there educating the community that there is a safe alternative to infant abandonment," Healy said.

24-Hour Crisis Hotline

Safe Place has a 24-hour crisis hotline for people immediately in need of help, (877) 440-2229.

For more information about the program, call the statewide clearinghouse at (608) 225-5544.

Safe Place for Newborns is also developing a curriculum for use in Wisconsin schools. To help get the word out, the group is putting up posters in restaurant and bar restrooms.

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