PERRY, IA — Perry police are investigating the death of an infant found in a trash can at the Acorns and Oaks Child Care Center on the east side of town Tuesday night. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation is helping with the case as officers try to determine exactly what happened and whether a crime occurred.
Police Chief Jim Archer said the case has been especially difficult for officers because it involves a baby. Authorities have released few details so far, but they say an autopsy is expected to provide additional information. For now, investigators have not said whether charges will be filed.
Police say the baby was not in the day care’s care
Archer said the infant was not under the supervision of the day care, and the mother was not a client of the center. That detail has become central to the investigation as police work to separate the child care business from the circumstances surrounding the death.
Authorities have not released the name of the mother. They have also not said where the infant was before being found in the trash can or how long the baby may have been there. Police are still piecing together the timeline leading up to the discovery.
How officers were alerted after a woman was hospitalized in Des Moines
Police said they were first alerted after a woman was hospitalized in Des Moines for bleeding. From there, officers learned about a baby that had been placed in a bag and left in a trash can in Perry.
The connection between the hospital visit and the infant’s discovery is part of what investigators are now examining. Officials have not described the woman’s medical condition beyond the bleeding, and they have not said whether she has been interviewed or whether any other people may have been involved.
Safe haven advocates point to legal options for mothers in crisis
Monica Kelsey, CEO of Safe Haven Baby Boxes, said the case underscores the need for mothers to know their options during a crisis. Her organization promotes anonymous newborn surrender through designated baby boxes.
Kelsey pointed to the box at the Fort Dodge Fire Station, about an hour north of Perry, as one example. Under Iowa’s safe haven law, mothers can also surrender babies at hospitals. She said those choices can give a mother complete anonymity while giving a newborn a chance to live.
Police say the infant might have survived with a different outcome
Archer said investigators believe the infant might have survived if the situation had ended differently. He used the case to remind young mothers that there are options available for safely giving up a newborn rather than leaving a baby in danger.
He said there are many people ready to adopt and raise children, adding that those paths exist for families who cannot care for a baby. Police framed that message as part public warning and part appeal for anyone facing a crisis involving a newborn.
Autopsy expected to guide next steps in possible criminal case
Authorities say it will take time to determine whether a crime occurred and whether any charges will follow. The autopsy is expected to help answer basic questions about the infant’s death, including what may have caused it and whether there are signs relevant to the investigation.
For now, the case remains active and early. Perry police and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation are continuing to work through the evidence while keeping most details private as they wait for more forensic information.
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