Baby found dead in Safe Haven Box at Idaho hospital

A newborn’s body was found in a “safe harbor” box at an Idaho hospital, sparking an investigation.

Officials responded to Grove Creek Medical Center in Blackfoot in eastern Idaho, where a dead newborn girl was recovered from a state “safe haven” box on Oct. 13, local station KTVB7 reported. Safe haven boxes give parents or caregivers the opportunity to safely drop off a child and remain anonymous, but only if the baby is unharmed.

Medical staff at Grove Creek removed the child from the crib shortly after it was placed, but quickly discovered that the baby “had long since died before it was placed in the baby box,” according to a social media post from Wednesday.

“We are incredibly grateful to our dedicated team who responded to the Safe Haven Baby Box alert within moments and gave their all in a heartbreaking situation,” Grove Creek wrote in the post. “Although this child had already died when he was abandoned, our staff showed deep compassion and commitment to care. Their actions mean everything to us and we are so proud of the way they honor every life they touch.”

USA TODAY contacted Twin Falls and Blackfoot police for further comment but did not immediately receive a response Wednesday.

Founder of “Safe Haven” boxes “makes me sick”

Monica Kelsey, who founded Safe Haven Baby Boxes and was herself abandoned as an infant in 1973, said her organization is cooperating fully with the investigation as authorities investigate how the baby died.

“We are heartbroken,” Kelsey said in a Facebook post, adding that the baby may have been dead for days. “I just feel sick… That baby was in that box for literally a minute.”

She added: “It was devastating everywhere.”

In the statement, she stressed that the incident was an “illegal, fatal abandonment” because the child was placed in the crate while wrapped in a blanket and still attached to the placenta.

The organization said its goal is to end infant abandonment and protect women in crisis with the safe haven boxes. According to the group, at least 52 infants have been “lovingly given to baby boxes” since 2017. However, the organization promises to work with law enforcement to seek justice for violations of the Safe Haven Act and any illegal abandonments.

“As the only organization offering an anonymous surrender option, we are at the forefront of educating the public about how this program works,” Kelsey said in a statement. “We will continue to educate citizens about the stark differences between illegal abandonment and the legal, safe surrender of an unharmed newborn.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: ‘Devastating’: Baby found dead in Safe Haven box at Idaho hospital