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A 22-year-old New Bedford woman was arraigned in New Bedford District Court on a single charge of Improper Disposal of a Body connected to the male infant found at Fort Taber Park on December 9, 2023.
Daniela Michell Escobar-Mejia, who is the mother of the deceased infant, was released on personal recognizance and ordered to abide by all Department of Children and Families orders during the pendency of the case. She is due back in court for a pretrial conference on September 12.
The defendant was summonsed into court after a lengthy investigation by Massachusetts State Police detectives assigned to the district attorney’s office and prosecutors.
On Saturday, December 9, 2023, New Bedford Police responded to Fort Taber at approximately 12:40 pm after receiving a 911 call regarding the discovery of a deceased infant. When police arrived on scene, they learned that an adult female was walking along a path near the water with her pre-teen niece when she made observations of a blanket near a thicket of bushes adjacent to the walking path. The woman also detected an odor of decay. The woman approached the blanket and found a white plastic bag wrapped inside of it. The decomposing deceased infant was located inside the plastic bag. When the woman made the discovery, she immediately yelled out about her discovery to two nearby men who were out walking their dog. Subsequently, one of the men called 911.
DNA analysis, review of surveillance footage in and around the park and other investigatory methods led detectives to the defendant. Subsequent DNA testing determined she was the infant’s mother. Due to the state of decomposition the infant was found in, the medical examiner was unable to determine if the baby had been alive prior to the alleged dumping of the infant in the park. No cause and manner of death could be determined.
Investigators have determined the infant was allegedly left in the park on November 6, meaning it was there for more than a month prior to it being discovered.
A full statement of facts was filed with the New Bedford District Court Clerk’s Office.
“I want to thank investigators for their efforts in this very sad and tragic case,” District Attorney Quinn said
