Hudson Valley Mother Left Newborn in Motel Room Toilet

A Hudson Valley mother admitted she left her newborn child in a motel room toilet.

On Thursday in Orange County Court, 23-year-old Teresa Smith pleaded guilty to assault in connection with Smith leaving her newborn baby in the toilet bowl of a motel room.

On November 1, 2018, motel workers at the Budget Inn Motel, located at 5202 Route 9W in the Town of Newburgh, discovered blood, other bodily fluids and soiled clothes in Smith's motel room and immediately contacted police.

Officers from the Town of Newburgh Police Department discovered the baby in the toilet bowl and immediately rendered first aid. The baby was rushed to the hospital and survived.

Prosecutors argued Smith abandoned the child in the motel toilet bowl moments after giving birth and left the room with no intent to return or care for her newborn.

When Smith pleaded guilty, she admitted her actions in abandoning the newborn baby in the toilet bowl and leaving the motel room caused serious physical injury to the infant which created a substantial risk of death, officials say.

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“Infants are the most innocent of victims,” Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler said. “We can only hope that there are no long-lasting physical effects which will be suffered by the victim in this case. It is hard to comprehend what could drive any mother to intend to harm her own baby by abandoning him under these circumstances."

As part of her plea deal, the Orange County District Attorney's Office will recommend Smith receive a 15-year prison sentence.