Post by Jasmine on Apr 4, 2008 17:21:55 GMT -5
Baytown shocked after newborn found dead in school bathroom
03:37 PM CDT on Thursday, April 3, 2008
By Kevin Reece, Wendell Edwards and Courtney Zubwoski / 11 News Video: Courtney Zubowski's 11 News report BAYTOWN, Texas --
Outside the Baytown campus of Cedar Bayou Junior High, students reacted to what police say happened after an 8th grader had a full term baby in the bathroom and tried to flush it down a toilet.
Witnesses told police they heard the child crying in the restroom at Cedar Bayou Junior High around 11 a.m. and went to get a nurse.
But by the time the nurse and medics arrived, the child was no longer breathing.
“The baby was alive when it was born,” Lt. Eric Freed said. “The girl attempted to flush the child down the toilet, and the child died as a result.”
Police believe the baby was close to full-term.
A baby that administrators say they didn't know the 14-year-old was carrying.
"No one knew she was pregnant,” said Kathy Clausen of Goose Creek ISD.
And for Joanne Leppo, the executive director of Crisis Pregnancy Center East, that's not really a surprise.
"At 14 years old what are you going to do. You have no clue,” said Leppo.
Last year alone, the center talked with close to 230 girls between the ages of 13 and 19, who thought they were or were pregnant.
"She was probably hoping she wasn't pregnant,” suggested Leppo. “She was probably in denial that whole time until it actually happened and still didn't know what to do."
Students in the Goose Creek School District take puberty related classes in the 4th and 5th grades. In 6th grade, the district offers a human sexuality class.
Students can also talk with school counselors, but counselors are required to let the child's parents know.
“If the child will absolutely not tell the parent the counselor will feel it necessary to tell the parent,” said Clausen.
Some students say they would like more education.
"Yeah, it would be good so you can know. It could help at least a little,” said Cedar Bayou 8th grader Jasmine Mancaneras.
Leppo says her agency offers that help. It has free pregnancy testing and counselors talk to pregnant teens about abortion and adoption.
"We don't say anything to parents because everything is confidential,” said Leppo.
But she encourages parents to talk with their children to prevent something like what happened inside the bathroom at Cedar Bayou Junior High from happening again.
Students also were in shock that one of their classmates would be accused of such a horrible act.
“That’s really bad. I cannot believe it. You are like destroying God’s creations,” student Joshua Contreras said.
The students were sent home with letters further detailing the incident.
Parents also expressed disbelief and disappointment.
“It’s very shocking, very shocking. Especially for these children to be in junior high,” parent Cinda Baker said.
“I’m just shocked that some girl could throw away the life of a young, little being,” Neris Ibarra said.
Police say the girl was taken to the hospital, where she remains in stable condition.
Investigators have already talked to the girl’s parents and say they plan to interview the 8th grader in person Thursday.
Wednesday’s incident wasn’t the first teen birth to make the news of late.
Earlier this week, another 14-year-old gave birth to a stillborn baby on a Continental flight from New York to Houston.
She won’t face charges because the baby wasn’t alive at birth.
That girl told investigators she didn’t know she was pregnant.
03:37 PM CDT on Thursday, April 3, 2008
By Kevin Reece, Wendell Edwards and Courtney Zubwoski / 11 News Video: Courtney Zubowski's 11 News report BAYTOWN, Texas --
Outside the Baytown campus of Cedar Bayou Junior High, students reacted to what police say happened after an 8th grader had a full term baby in the bathroom and tried to flush it down a toilet.
Witnesses told police they heard the child crying in the restroom at Cedar Bayou Junior High around 11 a.m. and went to get a nurse.
But by the time the nurse and medics arrived, the child was no longer breathing.
“The baby was alive when it was born,” Lt. Eric Freed said. “The girl attempted to flush the child down the toilet, and the child died as a result.”
Police believe the baby was close to full-term.
A baby that administrators say they didn't know the 14-year-old was carrying.
"No one knew she was pregnant,” said Kathy Clausen of Goose Creek ISD.
And for Joanne Leppo, the executive director of Crisis Pregnancy Center East, that's not really a surprise.
"At 14 years old what are you going to do. You have no clue,” said Leppo.
Last year alone, the center talked with close to 230 girls between the ages of 13 and 19, who thought they were or were pregnant.
"She was probably hoping she wasn't pregnant,” suggested Leppo. “She was probably in denial that whole time until it actually happened and still didn't know what to do."
Students in the Goose Creek School District take puberty related classes in the 4th and 5th grades. In 6th grade, the district offers a human sexuality class.
Students can also talk with school counselors, but counselors are required to let the child's parents know.
“If the child will absolutely not tell the parent the counselor will feel it necessary to tell the parent,” said Clausen.
Some students say they would like more education.
"Yeah, it would be good so you can know. It could help at least a little,” said Cedar Bayou 8th grader Jasmine Mancaneras.
Leppo says her agency offers that help. It has free pregnancy testing and counselors talk to pregnant teens about abortion and adoption.
"We don't say anything to parents because everything is confidential,” said Leppo.
But she encourages parents to talk with their children to prevent something like what happened inside the bathroom at Cedar Bayou Junior High from happening again.
Students also were in shock that one of their classmates would be accused of such a horrible act.
“That’s really bad. I cannot believe it. You are like destroying God’s creations,” student Joshua Contreras said.
The students were sent home with letters further detailing the incident.
Parents also expressed disbelief and disappointment.
“It’s very shocking, very shocking. Especially for these children to be in junior high,” parent Cinda Baker said.
“I’m just shocked that some girl could throw away the life of a young, little being,” Neris Ibarra said.
Police say the girl was taken to the hospital, where she remains in stable condition.
Investigators have already talked to the girl’s parents and say they plan to interview the 8th grader in person Thursday.
Wednesday’s incident wasn’t the first teen birth to make the news of late.
Earlier this week, another 14-year-old gave birth to a stillborn baby on a Continental flight from New York to Houston.
She won’t face charges because the baby wasn’t alive at birth.
That girl told investigators she didn’t know she was pregnant.
