Mother Accused of Abandoning Baby Arraigned in Springfield Court

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By Miranda Grossman

Story Published: Jun 5, 2009 at 7:07 PM EDT

Story Updated: Jun 5, 2009 at 7:07 PM EDT

Hospitalized and then handcuffed. The mother who allegedly left her newborn girl in a West Springfield motel room says she is not guilty.

Drug addicted and bipolar, that is how 37 year old Tara Anderson was described in Springfield District Court on Friday. The prosecutor said on the evening of May 29th, Anderson and a "John" met in a West Springfield motel room. "There the defendant smoked crack cocaine, not with the John, but by herself. She then had oral sex twice with the John," said the prosecutor.

The prosecutor said the two left. Then Anderson came back with another man and sometime before midnight she gave birth. "The person in the adjacent room heard the child crying. West Springfield police were alerted, they saw a child lying in the bed with the umbilical cord and placenta on the sheets," said the prosecutor.

Anderson has been charged with infant abandonment and reckless endangerment. But Anderson's court-appointed attorney, Stephen Newman, says the facts are being misconstrued. He says she hid in a motel room next door until she knew the baby was safe. He says someone was always with the baby. "She was in the area at all times, someone was in the area at all times," said Newman.

He says she did not get prenatal care and hid in fear of being arrested because of prior convictions. "She said she could hear the baby was fine, could hear the police say they were taking her to Baystate Medical so she knew the baby was being cared for," said Newman.

Anderson is being held on $100,000 bail and is also being evaluated for drug and alcohol addiction. She will be back in court at the end of June for a pre-trial or status hearing.

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Laura said on Sunday, Jun 21 at 6:06 PM

Why do I never come in contact with these people?! I would gladly take her baby! It is nearly impossible to adopt with the fees, timeline and rigorous classes that you need to take. Anyone can spread their legs and get pregnant and become a mom but if that is not an option you have to go through hell and high water to adopt a child! These people disgust me. They should be sterilized PERIOD.

suzieq said on Monday, Jun 8 at 10:48 PM

What more do people need? There is birth control, abortion on demand and the safe haven law which allows you to abandon your newborn. What other avenue can liberal Democrats give these women that don't have the sense God gave a goose. This woman should be permanently sterilized to keep this from happening again.

mb said on Sunday, Jun 7 at 9:23 PM

she deserves to die

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