NJ Teens Hid Pregnancy, Suffocated Newborn: Prosecutors

A New Jersey teen concealed her pregnancy from her parents before giving birth last week, then suffocated the child, according to an affidavit released by authorities that revealed many horrifying details.

The child was then tossed into a dumpster, according to an affidavit released by the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office.

These are the new developments in the case revealed after the arrest of Jada M. McClain, 18, of Neptune, and Quaimere Mohammed, 19, of Asbury Park, both of whom were apprehended on Friday, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni said.

The case recalls similar horrifying incidents that have happened in the past in New Jersey, sparking the state to create a website, www.njsafehaven.org, that lists places to take a baby (more details are identified in the video below).

McClain is charged with first-degree murder and second-degree disturbing or desecrating human remains. Mohammed is charged with second-degree disturbing or desecrating human remains, the prosecutor's office said.

Some of the terrible details revealed in the affidavit provided by the MCPO include (reader discretion advised):

• In February, Jada McClain allegedly began showing her stomach and told a friend she was drinking, smoking “weed” and taking pills so that she could try to kill her baby.
• After giving birth, Jada reported to a friend that she took her two hands and pressed on the baby’s chest to stop him from breathing. Jada explained that prior to placing her hands on her baby’s chest, she disclosed that the baby was breathing and that her intention was to stop her baby from breathing.
• The Asbury Park Police Department later reviewed the video surveillance recordings from an apartment complex on March 29, which showed Jada’s vehicle, a Volkswagen Jetta, arriving in the complex at approximately 9:30 AM.
• Quaimere Mohammed was observed getting out of the front passenger seat and discarding what appeared to be a blue colored trash bag into the dumpster.
• Jada later traveled with detectives to the Washington Village Apartment complex for the purpose of identifying the trash dumpster that Quaimere discarded the baby’s remains in.

Here is what the entire affidavit claims:

• On Thursday, the Neptune Township Police Department was contacted by personnel with the Asbury Park Police Department reporting that a student disclosed that her friend recently gave birth to an infant who is now deceased.
• The student identified her friend as Jada McClain, who was later determined to reside with her mother in Neptune Township. Jada was identified as being a student at the Neptune High School.
• After obtaining the information, detectives from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and the Neptune Township Police Department interviewed and obtained a typewritten statement from the student that said she was present when Jada McClain took a pregnancy test at the Kmart store located in Wall Township in November 2018.
• The line on the pregnancy test was faded so they were unsure if Jada was, in fact, pregnant at that time. The student added that it appeared as though Jada was possibly pregnant.
• The student reported that the two stopped talking for a short period of time, but began communicating again in February.
• Jada then allegedly began showing her stomach and told her that she was drinking, smoking “weed” and taking pills so that she could try to kill her baby.
• On Sunday, March 31, the student learned that Jada had delivered the baby. The student said that Jada sent her a message via Snapchat informing her that she had the baby and described how much pain she had been experiencing.
• Jada told the student that she delivered the baby on March 29 at approximately 3 a.m. The student reported to the police that Jada did not specify say where she delivered the baby and/or what she had done with the baby.
• The student indicated that Jada sent her two photographs of the baby, who appeared to be “blue and purple” with “dry” lips and “puffy” eyes.
• The student reported that the photographs of the baby were taken in Jada’s bedroom, and that she had been in Jada’s bedroom more than 10 times and recognized her dresser and the wall within the room.
• Jada further explained that she did not have a miscarriage and that she had named the baby “Legend.” Jada identified the father of the baby as Quaimere. Quaimere was later identified as being Quaimere Mohammed, residing in Asbury Park
• Detectives later made contact with Jada McClain as she left her place of employment in Wall Township. Jaida was transported to the Neptune Township Police Department where she waived her Miranda rights and agreed to be interviewed.
• Jada confirmed that she was engaged in a dating relationship with Quaimere Mohammed and reported that she learned that she was pregnant with Quaimere’s baby sometime in July 2018.
• Jada said she hid her pregnancy from her parents. She explained that she considered aborting the pregnancy, but was underage at the time and didn’t want her mother to find out.
• Jada reported that on Friday, March 29 at approximately 4 a.m., she gave birth to a baby boy while inside the bathroom within her Neptune Township residence.
• Jada said she was seated on the toilet when the baby was delivered; she said the baby did not enter the toilet water.
• Jada reported that the baby was crying at the time of birth. Jada said she named her baby “Legend.”
• Jada explained that after the delivery, she went into the shower to clean herself and the baby. Jada said she she then took her baby into her bedroom and placed him on his back on her bed.
• Jada reported that she took her two hands and pressed on the baby’s chest to stop him from breathing. Jada explained that prior to placing her hands on her baby’s chest, she disclosed that the baby was breathing and that her intention was to stop her baby from breathing.
• At approximately 6 a.m., Jada spoke to Quaimere via cell phones and told him that she had delivered the baby. Jada said that, at some point after speaking with Quaimere, she placed her baby in the backseat of her Volkswagen Jetta.
• Jada said the baby was wrapped in a blanket and placed in a bag. Jada said she then picked up Quaimere and drove to the ocean where they remained for approximately one hour.
• Jada said they then drove to Quaimere’s residence and sat in the car for approximately one hour before pulling into the parking lot of the Washington Village Apartment complex located in Asbury Park.
• Jada reported that Quaimere got out of the car and discarded the baby’s remains in a trash dumpster. Jada said that, several days prior to the birth, she had a conversation with Quaimere about what she would do after giving birth.
• One option that the two discussed was that she, Jada, would kill the baby after the birth. Jada advised that Quaimere replied that “they have to do what’s best for them.”
• Jada later traveled with detectives to the Washington Village Apartment complex for the purpose of identifying the trash dumpster that Quaimere discarded the baby’s remains in.
• The Asbury Park Police Department later reviewed the video surveillance recordings from the Washington Village Apartment complex on March 29, which revealed Jada’s vehicle, a Volkswagen Jetta arriving in the complex at approximately 9:30 a.m.
• Quaimere Mohammed was observed getting out of the front passenger seat and discarding what appeared to be a blue colored trash bag into the dumpster.