A daycare employee in Iowa was arrested after she allegedly gave birth in a bathroom and killed the newborn before returning to work.
Authorities announced that Stephanie Ubaldo was arrested on Thursday, September 17, and has been charged with one count of first-degree murder in connection with the child’s death.
An investigation into Ubaldo, 20, began on Tuesday, September 15, when Dallas County Emergency Medical Services received a report that a woman was experiencing vaginal bleeding at Acorns & Oaks Child Care, according to the Des Moines Register.
Emergency medical personnel arrived at the facility around 5 p.m., and they transported the bleeding woman – who was later identified as Ubaldo – to a local hospital for treatment.
Police learned around 6:30 p.m. that an infant was possibly found inside a garbage bin at the daycare. Officers then went to the center and found the dead infant, a girl, inside a trash bag.
Authorities learned that Ubaldo had been pregnant for months, but she never told anyone she was expecting, per court filings cited by the Des Moines Register.
Investigators claimed that Ubaldo delivered the baby in the daycare bathroom and then harmed the infant as she was crying.
“[Ubaldo] intentionally caused injuries to the baby’s face in an effort to stop the baby from crying,” prosecutors wrote in the criminal complaint, according to KCCI.
Ubaldo then reportedly returned to work, but the staff eventually called for medical assistance due to her continued bleeding.
The Iowa State Medical Examiner’s Office conducted an autopsy on the child, and it was determined that she had been between 32 and 36 weeks’ gestation at the time of the killing, according to the Des Moines Register. The newborn reportedly suffered a series of injuries and abrasions that were visible across her body.
In light of the autopsy results, the baby’s manner of death was ruled a homicide.
As Perry Police Chief James Archer announced the arrest, he discussed Iowa’s Safe Haven law and said it could have been an option for the defendant. The law allows parents or other authorized individuals to surrender an infant up to 90 days after their birth at designated locations without the possibility of being prosecuted for abandonment.
“There are numerous crisis pregnancy centers throughout the state of Iowa and resources available to those in need,” Archer said in a statement. “We strongly encourage those in a crisis pregnancy to reach out; people are available to assist you, you are not alone.”
Ubaldo is currently being held at Dallas County Jail without bail.
It’s not currently clear whether she has entered a plea or retained legal counsel following her arrest. The Perry Police Department did not immediately respond to Us’ request for comment regarding the case.
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