Perry police investigate infant found dead in trash can at east side day care
PERRY, Iowa —
Perry police are investigating the death of an infant found in a trash can at the Acorns and Oaks Child Care Center on the east side of town Tuesday night, with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation assisting in the case.
Police Chief Jim Archer said the case is particularly difficult for officers.
“Probably one of the tough things you can do as an officer, you know, when you’re dealing with, you know, babies,” Archer said.
Police said they were alerted after a woman was hospitalized in Des Moines for bleeding. They were informed about a baby placed in a bag in a trash can in Perry. Archer said the infant was not under the care of the day care, and the mother was not a client. The name of the mother has not been released.
Monica Kelsey, CEO of Safe Haven Baby Boxes, highlighted the importance of providing resources for mothers in crisis.
“It’s important for me to walk alongside these moms,” Kelsey said.
Safe Haven Baby Boxes allow mothers to anonymously drop off newborns in designated boxes, such as the one at the Fort Dodge Fire Station, about an hour north of Perry. Under Iowa’s safe haven law, mothers can also drop off babies at hospitals.
“It literally tears my heart out knowing that there was a box, well, an hour away from her where she could have got complete anonymity if she would have just drove there, placed her baby in that box, turned around, you know, walked away and we would never know her name,” Kelsey said.
Police say the infant might have survived had it not ended this way. They are reminding young mothers that there are options available to save newborns’ lives.
“There’s so many people out there looking to adopt and raise children and people who have difficulties with that. So those options are out there,” Archer said.
Authorities said it will take time to determine whether a crime occurred and if charges will be filed. An autopsy is expected to provide more information.
