Baby Search At Landfill Yields Bedding

SEBRING - Searchers at the county landfill looking for a baby that was tossed into the trash by a Lake Placid woman located a piece of bedding belonging to the residence, according to Highlands County Sheriff Susan Benton on Friday.

A landfill employee noticed something in the garbage he was moving for deputies, Benton said in a news release.

The cadaver dogs examined the area and "hit" on an item that deputies felt met the description of a piece of bedding from the Sarasota Street residence.

"The item has been identified by the residents," she said Friday. "So at least we know we're in the right area."

The item was secured by the crime scene unit. By press time Friday, no body had been located.

"This was a good break", Benton added. "There have been about 30 personnel out at the landfill since 7 a.m. Finding a specific item such as this encourages searchers and provides landfill staff with more specific site location for concentration."

The troops will continue searching throughout the weekend with additional help from the cadets in the law enforcement training academy at South Florida Community College, Benton said.

The number of searchers increased Friday at the landfill to about 30 per shift, on two six-hour shifts, as sheriff's detectives investigated what actually happened on Nov. 23, when the baby's mother put the infant into the trash.

Sheriff's Lt. Randy LaBelle said eight cadaver search dog teams from Miami-Dade, Marion, Martin, Orange and Osceola counties were on scene Friday.

Members of the sheriff's road patrol, detention staff, special investigations unit, crime scene unit as well as members of the Highlands County Emergency Operations Center, Lorida and Highlands Park Estates volunteer fire departments all pitched in to look for the infant's body.

The state attorney's office has become involved in the case, Benton said.
"All scenarios have been discussed with Assistant State Attorney Steve Houchin," she said, when asked if any charges have been leveled against the mother.

"He has met regularly with detectives and has visited the command site at the landfill. It has been determined it was important to concentrate on finding this baby."

The woman has admitted she had the baby and that she threw the body away in the trash, Benton said.
So then she has admitted to committing a second-degree misdemeanor?, Benton was asked.

"Yes, at the very least," Benton said.

Benton said Friday that because of evidence collected initially at the Sarasota Street residence in Lake Placid, and since then, there is no chance this could be a hoax.

Benton was asked if the mother said the baby was dead when she threw it out.

"All I can tell you is the story has evolved since the initial interview at the time of the report through today," Benton said. "But we're not prepared to reveal any details of the investigation at this time."

Two FEMA trailers, one belonging to county road and bridge and the second belonging to the sheriff's office, have been delivered to the front of the landfill office adding much needed space for the command center.