Authorities in Pennsylvania arrested a woman on homicide charges Wednesday, alleging she had given birth to a baby boy she killed and stuffed inside a paint can found at her home.
The Allentown Morning Call reported that Ashley Caraballo, 30, has been criminally charged for the death of her newborn son, whose remains police found in the basement of her North Whitehall Township home in October 2017. Lehigh County District Attorney Jim Martin said a lengthy investigation revealed the mother-of-five “ripped” the full-term, 8-pound baby from her cervix, killed him, then hid him in a paint bucket.
Authorities got involved after Caraballo reportedly went to the hospital for stomach pain and bleeding. Physicians determined she had recently given birth due to the presence of placental tissue, a partial umbilical cord, and specific internal injuries, according to KPVI.
Despite the doctor’s determination, Caraballo allegedly still denied she was pregnant and claimed the placental tissue was from her last pregnancy a year earlier. However, the doctor told police that she removed the baby from her womb hours or two to three days before coming to the hospital, according to WFMZ.
The Morning Call reported that the children’s father suspected Caraballo was pregnant at the time but she denied it and claimed two pregnancy tests came back negative. A report from Lehigh County Children and Youth Services stated that he wasn’t aware of his son’s birth until police found his body—which was reportedly in a pink children’s backpack located inside a 5-gallon paint container.
Martin revealed that forensic testing revealed the newborn was born alive and died of either asphyxia, blood loss or hypothermia. His death was ultimately deemed a homicide.
According to WFMZ, Caraballo told investigators on October 21, 2017, that she had an IUD but her medical records didn’t show her getting the procedure. Investigators reportedly searched the home that day but didn’t find any sign of the baby.
It was reportedly days later, on October 25, when investigators conducted a second search and located the newborn’s body.
Caraballo was charged with homicide, concealing the death of a child, and abuse of a corpse. She remains jailed without bail.
“This was an extremely difficult case for our troopers to work, not only from a professional standpoint but also from a personal standpoint,” PSP Troop M commanding officer Richard D’Ambrosio said.
“They were able to put their emotions aside that day and get to work and do what was necessary to get to where we are today and announce an arrest in this case.”
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[Featured image: KPVI video screengrab]
