Idaho Teen Arrested in Infant Death Case

Angel N. Newberry, an 18-year-old from Twin Falls, Idaho, has been arrested after a deceased newborn was found in a Safe Haven Baby Box at Grove Creek Medical Center in Blackfoot on October 13, 2024. She faces a felony charge for failing to report the infant's death, although more charges could be forthcoming. Safe Haven Baby Boxes are intended for the anonymous and legal surrender of unharmed infants under 30 days old, but this does not apply to deceased infants, as clarified by both Idaho law and the organization’s founder, Monica Kelsey. The medical team at the hospital responded immediately to an alarm from the baby box but discovered the infant had died long before being placed there. Law enforcement is withholding additional details due to the sensitivity of the case, and Newberry has been booked into Bingham County Jail. This incident highlights the legal limitations of Safe Haven laws, which do not protect the surrender of harmed or deceased infants.