Police Arrest Utah Woman Charged In Newborn Baby's Death

CANTON, GA -- A woman wanted on charges in connection to the death of her newborn baby was arrested Sunday afternoon in Cherokee County. Maria Elena Sullivan, 25, was booked into the Cherokee County Adult Detention Center on murder, three counts of child abuse and one count of endangerment of a child warrants issued by police in Utah, the Cherokee Sheriff's Office said.

Sullivan appeared on the agency's radar at Northside Hospital Cherokee when a sergeant was notified by hospital staff that she "had made some concerning statements to them," said sheriff's office spokesperson Sgt. Marianne Kelley.

Kelley added federal laws prohibit the agency from revealing why Sullivan was at the Canton hospital.

The sergeant conducted an investigation and determined Sullivan, of West Jordan, Utah, had active warrants out for her arrest. After she was discharged from the hospital, she was taken into custody and booked into the jail around 4:52 p.m. Oct. 22. She remains held without bond.

According to Deseret News, Sullivan, along with 21-year-old Dylan James Kitzmiller, are both charged with the murder of a 13-day-old baby, who died Sept. 17 after emergency medical personnel were dispatched to a home where the baby was in "full arrest." EMS crews also made note that the baby had bruising around his eyes, shoulders and arms. An autopsy conducted revealed the baby lost weight since his birth, had various fractures and a swollen brain, Deseret News states.

Kitzmiller was arrested Oct. 20 in West Jordan, Utah, and was taken into custody without incident, Fox 13 Salt Lake City reports.

Image via Cherokee Sheriff's Office