New Mexico mother drowns newborn in port-a-potty moments after giving birth: police

A New Mexico woman gave birth in a portable toilet and then drowned the infant in the device’s holding tank, police said.

Sonia Cristal Jimenez walked into Memorial Medical Center around 10:30 p.m. on Feb. 7 appearing as if she’d just given birth, but had no baby with her, Las Cruces police said.

Alarmed hospital staff contacted authorities.

Jimenez’s boyfriend told them he thought she was having a miscarriage, and mentioned to staff the couple had been at Burn Lake about six miles away, where Jimenez had used a port-a-potty.

Las Cruces police raced to the scene and found the newborn girl’s body in the toilet’s holding tank.

Jimenez was arrested Wednesday charged with one felony count of intentional child abuse resulting in death, police said.

“This is one of the most heartbreaking and disturbing cases I have encountered in my career,” Las Cruces police Chief Jeremy Story told the Sante Fe New Mexican.

An autopsy on Jimenez’s baby showed she was alive at birth.

“The blue chemical was found in the baby’s trachea, lungs and stomach confirming that she breathed and swallowed the liquid while alive,” police said.

Jimenez was booked into the Dona Ana County Detention Center where she is being held without bond.

“We will work closely with the district attorney’s office to pursue justice for this baby,” Story added.