Teenager charged with dumping newborn could be tried as adult
By Kat Russell, Reporter
The Paducah Sun
August 12, 2015
http://www.paducahsun.com/news/local/081215_PS_Baby_Folo
A teen facing an attempted murder charge after he allegedly disposed of a newborn infant in a dumpster may be prosecuted as an adult, McCracken County Attorney Sam Clymer said.
The county attorney said his office met with the Commonwealth Attorney's Office on Tuesday afternoon and decided they would seek to have the case transferred from juvenile to circuit court.
"We're going to be motioning to have what's called a transfer hearing, where a juvenile is transferred up to the circuit court to be tried as an adult," Clymer said.
The motion will be filed Wednesday, Clymer added.
If the judge decides to certify the teen as an adult, Clymer said, the case will then be transferred to the Commonwealth Attorney's Office and tried in circuit court.
The baby was found in a dumpster behind Fernwood Apartments near Lone Oak and Berger roads on July 30 after a witness reported seeing a "younger" black male discard something and leave the area.
Thinking the situation looked suspicious, the witness went to see what had been thrown away, found the infant and contacted law enforcement.
Later that evening, emergency dispatch received a call regarding a medical emergency from a residence near Berger Road and Goodman Drive, not far from the dumpster.
Upon arrival, emergency personnel found a 15-year-old girl who had given birth hours earlier.
McCracken Sheriff Jon Hayden confirmed the girl was the baby's mother and said information gleaned from that investigation led to the arrest of the teenage boy the next morning.
He was taken to the sheriff's department where during an interview he admitted to discarding the infant, said McCracken Detective Capt. Matt Carter, who investigated the incident. The boy was charged with attempted murder, first-degree criminal abuse and tampering with physical evidence.
Hayden said he could not comment on whether the boy was the baby's father but did say DNA testing has been ordered.
The baby was taken to an area hospital. Hayden said Monday the child is "doing well" and has been released to social services.
Following discovery of the infant, social media exploded with concern for the child, and many people inquired as to how they could donate items.
Hayden said anyone wishing to donate items for the infant can bring them to the Sheriff's Department at the McCracken County Courthouse.
As for the mother, Hayden said his office and the County Attorney's Office are still determining whether she will be charged.
Contact Kat Russell, a Paducah Sun staff writer, at 270-575-8653.
The county attorney said his office met with the Commonwealth Attorney's Office on Tuesday afternoon and decided they would seek to have the case transferred from juvenile to circuit court.
"We're going to be motioning to have what's called a transfer hearing, where a juvenile is transferred up to the circuit court to be tried as an adult," Clymer said.
The motion will be filed Wednesday, Clymer added.
If the judge decides to certify the teen as an adult, Clymer said, the case will then be transferred to the Commonwealth Attorney's Office and tried in circuit court.
The baby was found in a dumpster behind Fernwood Apartments near Lone Oak and Berger roads on July 30 after a witness reported seeing a "younger" black male discard something and leave the area.
Thinking the situation looked suspicious, the witness went to see what had been thrown away, found the infant and contacted law enforcement.
Later that evening, emergency dispatch received a call regarding a medical emergency from a residence near Berger Road and Goodman Drive, not far from the dumpster.
Upon arrival, emergency personnel found a 15-year-old girl who had given birth hours earlier.
McCracken Sheriff Jon Hayden confirmed the girl was the baby's mother and said information gleaned from that investigation led to the arrest of the teenage boy the next morning.
He was taken to the sheriff's department where during an interview he admitted to discarding the infant, said McCracken Detective Capt. Matt Carter, who investigated the incident. The boy was charged with attempted murder, first-degree criminal abuse and tampering with physical evidence.
Hayden said he could not comment on whether the boy was the baby's father but did say DNA testing has been ordered.
The baby was taken to an area hospital. Hayden said Monday the child is "doing well" and has been released to social services.
Following discovery of the infant, social media exploded with concern for the child, and many people inquired as to how they could donate items.
Hayden said anyone wishing to donate items for the infant can bring them to the Sheriff's Department at the McCracken County Courthouse.
As for the mother, Hayden said his office and the County Attorney's Office are still determining whether she will be charged.
Contact Kat Russell, a Paducah Sun staff writer, at 270-575-8653.
