Woman Admits She Abandoned Newborn In Motel Toilet: DA

NEWBURGH, NY — The woman who was accused of abandoning her newborn child in a motel room toilet entered a plea in court. Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler said Thursday that Teresa Smith, 23, pleaded guilty to first-degree assault, a felony.

At the time of the plea, Smith admitted that her actions abandoning the newborn in the toilet bowl caused serious physical injury to the child which created a substantial risk of death, authorities said.

Hoovler said that, on Nov. 1, motel workers at the Budget Inn Motel, located at 5202 Route 9W in the Town of Newburgh, discovered blood, other bodily fluids and soiled clothes in a room and immediately called the police.

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

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

Prosecutors said she had no intent to return or care for the child because she left the motel.

Pursuant to the plea agreement, the district attorney will recommend that Smith be sentenced to 15 years in state prison and five years post-release supervision, when she is sentenced June 18.

Hoovler said that infants are the most innocent of victims.

"We can only hope there are no long-lasting physical effects which will be suffered by the victim in this case," he said. "It is hard to comprehend what could drive any mother to intend to harm her own baby by abandoning him under these circumstances."

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