Mother Left Newborn Infant In Toilet Bowl: DA

GOSHEN, NY — The woman who admitted to abandoning her newborn son in a motel toilet will be going to prison. Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler said Tuesday that Teresa Smith, 23, was sentenced to 10 years in state prison and five years post-release supervision.

Smith pleaded guilty April 25 to first-degree assault, saying she abandoned the child in the toilet bowl and left the motel room, causing serious physical injury to the infant which created a substantial risk of death.

Prosectors had recommended she be sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Hoovler said that, on Nov. 1, workers at the Budget Inn Motel, on Route 9W in the Town of Newburgh, found blood, other bodily fluids and soiled clothes in a room. They immediately called the police.

Officers from the Town of Newburgh Police Department found the baby in the toilet bowl and immediately began first aid. The baby, who was rushed to the hospital, survived.

Prosecutors said Smith went to the toilet bowl moments after having given birth to the child and left him left there. She then left the motel room.

Prosecutors argued that Smith had no intent to return or care for the child.

Senior Assistant District Attorney Christopher Kelly said Smith cleaned herself up, called a cab and went to buy heroin, recordonlie.com reported.

Hoovler thanked the Town of Newburgh police for rescuing the child and their investigation which led to the arrest of Smith.

"It is hard to comprehend what could drive any mother to do this to her own baby by abandoning him under these circumstances," he said.

"Infants are the most innocent of victims," Hoovler said. "We can only hope that there are no long-lasting physical effects which will be suffered by the victim in this case."

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