A woman in America has been arrested for murder nearly nine years after her baby was found abandoned in a bin. Dominique Harrison, 28, of Danbury, in Connecticut, sobbed in court on Monday, as prosecutors alleged that she dumped her baby in the bin while he was still alive.
The incident happened in 2018, shortly after Ms Harrison had given birth. The baby’s remains were discovered at a waste collection centre based in Stamford, approximately 30 miles away. According to Fox 61, Deputy Assistant State Attorney Mary Caitlin Harding told the judge: “The case before you paints a picture of a level of depravity that is nearly inconceivable.
“The defendant here is charged with murdering her newborn son in a manner that is particularly heinous. The facts allege she put that newborn baby son alive in a dumpster in a remote area so that no one could save that baby’s life.”
It is unknown which of the many bin trucks that pass through the waste collection plant disposed of the baby’s body.
Officials had originally believed that the baby was killed in Danbury, but police did not disclose a cause of death.
Police said an investigation into the 2018 discovery of human remains in Stamford led to the issuance of an arrest warrant for Harrison.
It remains unclear what new evidence detectives have uncovered to lead to the arrest of Ms Harrison.
Harding said the state was unable to discuss details of the case publicly before adding that the “facts all will point to the fact that this defendant murdered her newborn child.”
The prosecutor argued that Ms Harrison is “a danger to society” and that an ongoing investigation could result in “very serious” additional charges against her.
The defendant’s attorney Ryan McGuigan argued against calls for Ms Harding to remain in custody before a trial.
He said: “The state may paint her as a threat to society, but I don’t think that’s the case. She had been active in the community and has been able to maintain full-time employment.”
It is not known if Ms Harding entered a plea.
She will appear in court on July 31 for further proceedings.
