The Orange County Criminal Lawyer Blog
A baby born at home and allegedly without the assistance of a trained professional was reportedly found with hypodermic needle marks on her head had heroin in her bloodstream, leading to her death and the arrest of three people.
21-year-old Destiney Harbour from San Angelo, Texas, was expecting a child and was due to give birth in late-August.
It was reported that Harbour’s mom, 37-year-old Christin Chanelle Bradley, and Bradley’s beau, 34-year-old Dustin Wayne Smock, was with Harbour on August 23, when the woman gave birth to her daughter.
The birth reportedly took place in the dwelling with Bradley and Smock assisting, and it was purported that no trained medical professionals were there during the delivery.
On November 8, the infant’s grandma and Smock reportedly tucked the baby in.
A short time later, when checking on the infant, they reportedly found that she had stopped breathing.
The San Angelo Police Department was notified, and they sent deputies from the Crimes Against Children Unit to intervene.
The deputies called for assistance when they saw the infant’s condition, and they had her transported to Shannon Medical Center.
It was stated in a release by the police department that the medical staff “observed injection sites on the infant’s extremities and head and that the infant’s urine tested positive for heroin.”
It was determined that the baby would need life support, so she was sent to Cook Children’s Hospital in Fort Worth, and the authorities were granted a warrant to search Harbour’s residence.
When looking around the home, they allegedly found paraphernalia, “a small quantity of suspected heroin, methamphetamine, marijuana, and pills.”
The police also reported that while describing the birth event, Bradley allegedly said she used a shoelace to tie off the umbilical cord.
Harbour, Bradley, and Smock are each expected to face charges for suspicion of felony serious bodily injury to a child.
Harbour was jailed on a $100,000 bond, and Bradley and Smock were each incarcerated on $50,000 bonds.
On November 10, the infant passed away.
If you or someone you love is suspected of a domestic violence offense, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.