A 38-year-old woman from New Mexico has been formally charged in connection with the death of a newborn after authorities allege she gave birth inside a portable toilet and left the infant in the holding tank, resulting in the baby’s drowning. The case, which is being investigated by the Las Cruces Police Department, has drawn significant public attention due to the disturbing circumstances surrounding the incident.
According to a police press release, Sonia Cristal Jimenez arrived at Memorial Medical Center in Las Cruces at approximately 10:30 p.m. on February 7. Hospital personnel reportedly observed signs indicating that she had recently given birth, yet she was not accompanied by a baby. Medical staff quickly alerted law enforcement to the unusual situation, prompting an immediate investigation.
Authorities later learned from Jimenez’s boyfriend that the couple had been spending time at Burn Lake, a remote area located several miles from the hospital. He told investigators that Jimenez had used a portable toilet while they were at the location. Officers responded to the site and discovered the body of a newborn girl inside the holding tank of the portable restroom.
Investigators believe that Jimenez delivered the baby inside the portable toilet, severed the umbilical cord, and left the infant in the tank. An autopsy later determined that the newborn inhaled and ingested the chemical sanitation liquid commonly used in portable toilets. Law enforcement officials reported that the distinctive blue fluid was found in the infant’s trachea, lungs, and stomach. These findings, according to investigators, indicate that the baby was alive and breathing at the time she was submerged in the liquid.
Jimenez was arrested and charged with intentional child abuse resulting in death, which is classified as a first-degree felony under New Mexico law. She is currently being held without bond at the Doña Ana County Detention Center. Authorities have stated that her boyfriend is not expected to face charges, as investigators believe he was unaware of the birth.
In a public statement, Las Cruces Police Chief Jeremy Story described the case as one of the most tragic and distressing incidents he has encountered in his career, underscoring the severity of the allegations and the ongoing investigation.
