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A woman from Texas faces a felony charge for allegedly abandoning her newborn wrapped in plastic in a dumpster. She reportedly told authorities she did it to maintain her relationship with her boyfriend.
Everilda Cux-Ajtzalam, 18, was charged with a felony for abandoning a child in Harris County, Texas, on Sunday, July 21, according to the People Magazine.
Cux-Ajtzalam, who works at a food truck, allegedly gave birth behind the food truck in Houston, as noted in a probable cause document.
Authorities said the child was born the same day it was found, per Khou 11.
After giving birth, Cux-Ajtzalam allegedly placed the baby in a trash bag along with the umbilical cord and placenta and disposed of the bag in a dumpster, the probable cause document states.
A passerby heard the baby crying and called 911, saving the child who had allegedly been left tied inside the trash bag.
Officers with the Houston Police Department and emergency medical personnel at about 1:15 p.m. responded to the area. They were able to recover the child from inside the dumpster.
The newborn was rushed to Texas Children’s Hospital by Houston Fire Department medics and was found to be in stable condition.
After receiving medical attention, the child was placed in the care of Child Protective Services.
Investigators swiftly linked the infant to the food truck incident and identified Everilda Cux-Ajtzalam as the mother.
Cux-Ajtzalam reportedly told detectives that she felt forced to abandon her baby in the dumpster to avoid a breakup with her boyfriend, according to the bond order, as reported by Law & Crime news.
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The document also mentions that the incident was captured on surveillance video, which helped police track down Cux-Ajtzalam and connect her to the crime.
Cux-Ajtzalam, a Guatemalan national, appeared in court for the first time on Friday.
Harris County District Court Judge Veronica M. Nelson criticized her for abandoning her son in a garbage pile, as the Houston Chronicle reported.
“It was pure luck that the child was found and received care,” Nelson reportedly said.
“Given that it’s the middle of summer in Houston, Texas, and the temperature at the time, noting the danger to the child, under those circumstances, I’m going to set the bail in this case at $90,000.”
Prosecutors had requested a bond of $150,000, while Cux-Ajtzalam’s public defender had sought a bond of $7,500, according to records.
Although her bond was initially set at $90,000, it was later increased to $200,000.
Records indicate that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has placed a hold on her release. She remains in detention at the Harris County Jail and is scheduled to appear in court on Monday.
Multiple babies were abandoned in Houston last month
Three babies were left abandoned in Houston last month under disturbing circumstances.
According to court documents, the first incident occurred in June when a man walking along a road in southeast Houston heard a baby crying. He found a newborn and called the police.
In the second incident, a woman found half a mile away was covered in blood and claimed she had just given birth, according to police.
Court documents indicate she is charged with abandoning a child.
On Sunday, a shocking video captured the moment a newborn boy was rescued from a dumpster in southwest Houston.
An apartment manager reported that a food truck employee had given birth in the truck and left the baby in the dumpster. Police said they have a suspect, but no charges have been filed yet.
On Monday, Anthony Gray, who allegedly called his child’s mother, appeared before a judge, stating he no longer wanted to care for the infant.
Gray left the baby near a dumpster for several hours before the child was found. He is now facing a felony charge for abandoning the baby.
All three cases could have been prevented.
“It’s heartbreaking every time we see it,” said Martee Boose from the Houston Fire Department.
According to HFD, the Baby Moses Law permits parents of children 60 days old or younger to bring their baby to a fire station, police station, or hospital and hand them over to an employee without facing legal consequences or revealing their identity.
“When you are overwhelmed with your baby, you might not think clearly about the best course of action. To avoid prosecution, do not abandon or neglect the baby. Taking them to a fire station or hospital is the best option for the baby,” Boose advised.
Child Protective Services reported that in the past 11 months in Houston, five babies were abandoned while three were safely surrendered under the Baby Moses Law.
CPS stated that the baby found in June is with a foster family, while the baby found in the dumpster is still in the hospital but in good health. CPS also mentioned they did not receive an intake call for the Pasadena case.
If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or visit www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential, and the hotline is available 24/7 in over 170 languages.
