Michelle R. A homeless man found the body of the newborn wrapped in plastic in February , and police gave her the name Angelique Hope and money was donated to buy a headstone.
She originally was charged with involuntary manslaughter, but last month pleaded guilty to a charge of felony injury to a child. Smith had told investigators she gave birth into a toilet bowl and lost consciousness for 45 minutes. She claimed that when she woke up, the baby was dead. Smith could have given the baby up for adoption, given her to the father or taken her to the hospital under the Idaho Safe Haven Act, which specifies a parent can give the baby to the state with no questions asked, said Pearson.
Smith, who was valedictorian of her high school class in Salmon, wanted to be the perfect child for her parents, said her attorney, Randy Schulthies. He said she suffers from nightmares and post traumatic stress disorder. Spokane is one of many cities across the country facing a significant shortage of behavioral health workers.
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