BLACKFOOT, Idaho — Authorities are currently looking into the circumstances surrounding the discovery of a deceased baby girl found within a dedicated location for safe newborn drop-offs at a southeastern Idaho hospital. This incident was confirmed on a Monday after the body was located in a box designated for anonymity in surrendering infants.
On October 13, police in Blackfoot, situated approximately 250 miles east of Boise, were called to the Grove Creek Medical Center following a report about an infant that was left in the Safe Haven Baby Box. The box itself was installed earlier this year, and when hospital personnel was alerted by an alarm indicating a newborn had been placed inside, they quickly responded, only to find that the baby had tragically passed away prior to being deposited there.
Monica Kelsey, who initiated the Safe Haven Baby Boxes, expressed her sorrow over the incident in a recent social media update. She emphasized that the purpose of these boxes is to ensure that babies are surrendered without any harm, stating, “We are heartbroken. Anonymity is only allowed when an infant is safely surrendered completely unharmed.” In accordance with Idaho law, only healthy and unharmed infants may be relinquished through this program.
According to officials, the organization and medical staff are cooperating with law enforcement in their investigation. Kelsey noted that the infant was wrapped in a blanket and the placenta was still attached at the time of discovery. The staff of Grove Creek Medical Center conveyed in their social message that they dedicated themselves fully to the challenging situation.
Kelsey, who was herself abandoned shortly after birth in 1973, started the Safe Haven Baby Boxes initiative in Indiana in 2016. These secure boxes, which are stationed at various fire departments and hospitals, are designed to offer a safe and anonymous alternative for parents needing to surrender their newborns.
The boxes are constructed with medical-grade materials and are built into the exterior of facilities. Once a baby is placed inside, an outer door automatically locks, and medical personnel can access it through an interior door to ensure the infant’s safety. Since their inception, these boxes have been established in more than a dozen states, with Kelsey reporting that 52 babies have been surrendered through this program as of 2017.
Moving forward, Kelsey affirmed that Safe Haven Baby Boxes will continue focusing on education regarding the proper use of the program, in hopes that such tragedies can be avoided in the future.