Infant Death in Fountain
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Updated: 9:21 AM Nov 4, 2008
Infant Death in Fountain
A new born was allegedly smothered and thrown in the trash by it's mother on Sunday in Fountain.
Posted: 6:47 PM Nov 3, 2008
Reporter: Mark Vaughn
Email Address: mark.vaughn@wjhg.com

Fountain Mom Kills Infant
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Twenty-six year old Stephanie Collins faces a murder charge after smothering her new born baby and leaving him in a trash can. The woman's mother was shocked to find her dead grandchild that she didn't even know existed.

This case is especially disturbing because Collins knew about Florida’s safe baby law but, according to investigators, still decided to kill the child.

Shortly after midnight the new born baby boy of Stephanie Collins was just minutes old when she allegedly smothered the baby, placed him in a plastic bag and threw him away like trash. We received a phone call from a local hospital stating that an infant had been brought in by its grandmother who had found it in the trash outside the home that shared with her twenty-six year old daughter. We responded, and the infant had been pronounced dead on arrival.

Collins' mother, the baby's grandmother, told sheriff's investigators she didn't know her daughter was pregnant and was shocked to find the baby. Collins has a 9-year old son, and decided to hide the pregnancy from her family.

"Her statement had also included the fact that she had an abortion and chose not to go through that experience again."

"The Safe Haven Law here in Florida tries to prevent cases like this. Under the law, you can take any new born within seven days of being born to a hospital, Fire Station, or even E.M.S. Station and leave the child without any questions asked."

"The good thing about this act or The Safe Haven Law is that it allows for those kids to be placed in exactly what it is a safe place without the threat of them being placed in some environment that could potentially cause damage to them or potentially cause them to lose their life."

A medical worker at bay medical said that rushing the lifeless baby to a doctor was one of the hardest things he's had to do in his 26 years. Tragedies like this one don't have to happen; over 100 babies have been given up for adoption since 2000 under this law.

That's 100 lives saved from an untimely death. Stephanie Collins is still being guarded by deputies at bay medical center. Once she is released she will be charged with an open count of murder and taken to the bay county jail.

For more information on the safe haven law you can visit this website. http://www.asafehavenfornewborns.com/

Here's a link to the Florida statute as well:
http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?app_mode=display_statute&search_string=&url=ch0383/sec50.htm&title=-%3e2004-%3ech0383-%3esection%2050#0383.50%20


Latest Comments

Posted by: Anonymous on Mar 19, 2010 at 02:03 AM

i grew up this girl but that is no reson to take the life of a baby!! do not know what to say she must have lost her mind!!
Posted by: Leta Location: Yerington Nevada on Oct 22, 2009 at 01:55 PM

Yerington-nites I am disappointed to see what you are writing.. Yes it is a horrible story BUT you all knew her and knew the horrible things that were done to her when she had her son.. Stop and take a second to think about what all of YOU did to alienate her and the school. Why would she try and do the right thing when the last time she did all of us turned our backs on her?? You would do the same and you can't say you wouldn't. Yes this is awful and sad and horrible but remember where she came from and what everyone in her hometown did... God Bless her and her family in this time of need...
Posted by: earlene dukek Location: nevada on Aug 5, 2009 at 04:07 PM

i have known her for years and NEVER in my mind would i think Stephanie could do such a thing. how darn you stephanie collins you were not raised this way. you will pay forsure both here on earth and finally in HEAVEN
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