GOSHEN – The woman, who gave birth while on a toilet at the Budget Inn Motel on Route 9W in the Town of Newburgh last weekend, was arraigned in Orange County Court on Friday.
Teresa Smith, 23, is charged with attempted murder, assault, abandonment of a child, and reckless endangerment.
An indictment against her alleges that on November 1, inside the motel, she attempted to cause the death of her newborn baby by leaving it in the toilet bowl of the room she was occupying and abandoning it.
Motel workers who discovered the baby immediately called the police; the baby was rushed to the hospital and survived.
At the arraignment, prosecutors argued that Smith had no intention to return or care for the child as she left the motel, and her intent was for the baby to die.
“Infants are the most innocent of victims,” said District Attorney David Hoovler. “It is hard to comprehend what could drive any mother to intend to kill her own baby by abandoning the baby in these types of circumstances. I am grateful to the Town of Newburgh Police Department for their actions in saving the child’s life.”
Bail for Smith was set at $100,000 cash or $300,000 bond.
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