John Jefferson
Main: The home where Leticia A. Rodriguez was allegedly caught trying to bury her dead newborn (WAGA). Inset: The area in the yard where police say Rodriguez dug the hole (WANF).
A 17-year-old mother in Georgia has been arrested after she was allegedly caught digging a hole in her backyard with the intention of burying her dead newborn baby. Leticia A. Rodriguez was taken into custody over the weekend and charged with one felony count each of concealing a death, throwing away or abandonment of a dead body, and abuse of a dead body in the death of her young son, records reviewed by Law&Crime show.
Officers with the Marietta Police Department at about 3:20 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 24, responded to a residence on Gramling Street regarding a deceased baby and someone digging a hole in their backyard, Marietta Police Public Information Officer Chuck McPhilamy said during a Monday news briefing.
McPhilamy said the initial call “went out inappropriately” stating that a witness had seen someone “burying an infant” in the backyard, but said that confusion was due to a language barrier.
Upon arriving at the scene, first responders said they “discovered the mother of the deceased infant digging a hole in the backyard in an attempt to create that situation,” clarifying that the infant was “never actually buried.”
McPhilamy said that the details included in the probable cause affidavit were “more graphic” than police would say publicly, but provided some details about what officers saw at the scene.
“What I can tell you is that when officers arrived on the scene they did find a body that was obviously recognizable as a newborn infant, that that infant was deceased, that that infant was clearly injured,” he said, adding that the boy “appeared to be a fully formed or full-sized child.”
Police said that Rodriguez had given birth in her home earlier in the day and “had no one of any adult nature or even a peer of hers” willing to offer her any assistance. McPhilamy said that Rodriguez was in bad shape and required immediate medical attention due to the “trauma of childbirth.”
Rodriguez was transported to Wellstar Kennestone Hospital for treatment.
A copy of the probable cause affidavit obtained by Atlanta Fox affiliate WAGA provided additional information about the nature of the tragic incident.
According to the report, Rodriguez allegedly gave birth in her bed Sunday morning. While it is not clear how the newborn died, police say she wrapped the boy in blankets and stuffed him in a grocery bag, hiding his body there for about six hours.
Rodriguez’s uncle then allegedly caught her digging a hole near a tree in the backyard where she was planning on burying the child. The uncle then called 911.
Additionally, the affidavit reportedly states that Rodriguez admitted to mutilating her newborn’s body using a pocket knife.
Rodriguez was still in the hospital as of Monday. Upon her release, she will be transported and processed at the Cobb County Jail.
An autopsy will be performed by the Cobb County Medical Examiner to determine the victim’s cause of death. Based on that report, authorities said Rodriguez could face additional charges.
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