"Newborn Jane" DOWNING - Found in trash can (11/2011) - Farmersville/ Fresno CA

FARMERSVILLE – The death of a newborn baby whose body was found in a trash can in the driveway of a home in Farmersville is being investigated as a homicide.

Farmersville police said Tuesday that the baby's mother was questioned Monday and then released. No charges have been filed and police are still investigating.

An autopsy, which may be performed today, could determine whether the baby was alive or dead when it was born, said Farmersville police Lt. Michael Marquez.

The infant's body was discovered by the owner of the home at twilight on Monday, Marquez said. The 23-year-old mother also lives at the home, which is on the 700 block of North Shasta Street.

Police did not say what their relationship is.

Just before 7 p.m., police got a call from the home that an infant had been found in a trash can. By the time police arrived, the body had already been removed from the can.

Police did not reveal the baby's gender.

The mother remains a "person of interest" in the case, Marquez said.

Neighbors said five people who live in the home could often be heard arguing, but they largely stay to themselves. The home's occupants range from 20-year-olds to 50-year-olds.

Neighbor Jose Alcazar, 35, said he saw a man leaving the home on a bicycle late Monday night and waved him down.

"He just said they found a dead body in the trash can," Alcazar said. "That gave me chills."

The Tulare County Sheriff's Department has a "Don't Abandon Your Baby" program to spread the word that a distressed parent can take an unwanted infant to a fire station or hospital under the state's "Safely Surrendered Baby" law within three days of birth and not face arrest for child abandonment.

The county's campaign was launched after three Orosi newborns were left outdoors in 2005 and 2006, including one found dead in the rear of a truck.

DNA testing showed that the babies all had the same mother.

Nancy Ortiz was found guilty of second degree murder and child abandonment and is serving 22 years to life in prison. She hid her pregnancies, investigators said.


Read more: http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/10/18/2581551/baby-found-dead-in-farmersville.html#storylink=mirelated#ixzz1bY49sUYD

Farmersville newborn found in trash, mom's ex-boyfriend talks

Thursday, October 20, 2011

FARMERSVILLE, Calif. (KFSN) -- A South Valley woman, whose baby was found dead in a trash can, made an appearance in court for a custody hearing.

Before Danielle Downing appeared in court Thursday morning she was in court on Monday for another custody hearing. Her ex-boyfriend tells us, that day, she told him she was not pregnant.

Danielle Downing kept her head down as she denied questions from Action News. The 24-year-old was in court for an emergency custody hearing for her 3-year-old son. Downing was just granted visitation rights to the boy on Monday, but once her ex-boyfriend and father of their son, Jeremy Estes, heard about the criminal investigation into the death of Downing's newborn, he asked for another hearing to prevent her from seeing the boy.

Estes said, "I filed the emergency custody hearing just based on the basis of the fear of my son's safety."

Jeremy Estes says when he first saw Downing on Monday he thought she looked pregnant.

Estes said, "We were sitting in the mediators office side by side and she kept complaining that she wasn't feeling well her stomach was hurting I asked her twice if she was pregnant and she said no, she wasn't pregnant."

Just a few hours later, Farmersville Police say Downing gave birth to a little girl in her home. In the evening, the full-term newborn was discovered dead in a trash can by a family member.

Estes believes Danielle Downing was going into labor while they were in court earlier that day.

Estes said, "On the way back from the mediators office walking back to Judge Hillman's courtroom Ms. Downing had to make a stop at the restroom and she was in there for 10-15 minutes."

Danielle Downing was denied visitation to her son pending the results of the criminal investigation into her newborn's death. Farmersville Police are expected to release more information on the case after an autopsy of the baby is conducted. It's not clear if the baby was alive at birth.

http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?section=news/local&id=8400044

Police have arrested the mother of a newborn baby. The child's body was found in a trash can in Farmersville late last year.

Action News first told you about the story back in October. Police were called to a home on Shasta Avenue near Ash Avenue in Farmersville, where they found the child's body. They believe the baby was born at the home earlier in the day.

Friday, the child's mother, Danielle Downing, 23, was arrested by investigators. She's charged with homicide and child abuse and endangerment.

Downing is expected in Tulare County court to answer to those charges on Tuesday.

http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?section=news/local&id=8566882

“We'll enter the pleas of not guilty at this time,” said the judge, when 23-year-old Danielle Downing was arraigned on one county of murder and one count of child abuse causing death to a child.  Her newborn daughter was found dead  in a trash can outside Downing's Farmersville home.

“All our hopes and prayers are with her, we're hoping for the best and we're hoping this was accidental and not purposely done,” said Judith Compton, Downing’s mother.

Downing also has a 3 year old son, Isaac, that his father has custody of.  The boy’s paternal grandmother says downing gave up her son about a year and a half ago saying she could no longer care for the boy.

“I was shocked when it first happened I was angry because I though that could have been Isaac,” said Debby Tafoya, the boy’s biological paternal grandmother.  Tafoya thinks what happened with the newborn girl in October is a result of mental health issues.

“She's got mental problems Danielle is supposed to be on depression meds and stuff and she's not taking them,” said Tafoya.

“In order for us to charge a case, we have to believe there’s sufficient evidence to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt. We believe we have that information we believe we have that evidence and we will go forward. It's the job of a defense attorney to bring up mental health issues, if there actually are mental health issues,” said Shani Jenkins,the Assistant District Attorney, Tulare County.

Tafoya says downing has a troubling past with her three year old son.  “She tried smothering him when he was just a newborn. And the sister pulled the pillow off and isaac to this day is scared to death of a pillow,” said Tafoya.


Downing will be in court again March 16^th, she is being held with no bail.

If convicted she can face 25 years to life for each count against her.

http://www.cbs47.tv/news/local/story/Mother-in-Court-After-Baby-Was-Found-Dead-in-Trash/hDio1QFOMU64MbLTEGGU0w.cspx