TWIN FALLS, Idaho — Police in Twin Falls are investigating the death of a newborn girl found in the Safe Haven Baby Box at Grove Creek Medical Center in Blackfoot on Oct. 13, 2024.
According to authorities, the Blackfoot Police Department responded to the scene and initiated a death investigation. The Twin Falls Police Department has since assumed responsibility for the investigation and is working closely with the Blackfoot Police Department.
Idaho’s Safe Haven Baby Box program offers a safe and confidential option for parents in crisis. Under the Idaho Safe Haven Act, "a custodial parent may leave a child at a safe haven without being subjected to prosecution for abandonment, provided that child was no more than 30 days old." The program reflects the community’s commitment to protecting the lives of vulnerable infants.
In a recent press release, the Safe Haven Baby Boxes founder, Monica Kelsey, said their organization is "heartbroken" over the news. She went on to say that Safe Haven Baby Boxes is cooperating with local authorities to find out who left the deceased infant, adding that the victim had died long before being dropped off.
Let this be clear: this is an illegal, deadly abandonment. Anonymity is only allowed when an infant is safely surrendered completely unharmed. - Monica Kelsey, Safe Haven Baby Boxes Founder
When the infant was left in the baby box, Grove Creek Medical Center staff were alerted and responded within a minute. According to the release, they discovered the infant in the baby box bassinet wrapped in a blanket with the placenta still attached. Grove Creek Medical Center staff, the site of Idaho’s only Safe Haven Baby Box, are commended for their compassionate response and support during this tragic situation.
