Dominique Harrison allegedly placed her newborn son, still alive, into a remote dumpster in Danbury, Connecticut, hoping no one would find the infant before he died, according to police. The 28-year-old now faces charges of murder of a victim less than 16 years old — nearly eight years after the baby's remains were discovered.
Background
Stamford police began investigating the case in 2018 when they found the infant's remains. Through their investigation, authorities determined the baby had been killed in Danbury and worked to identify the mother. The case remained active for years before investigators gathered enough evidence to make an arrest.
Harrison was taken into custody last week, ending a long investigation that saw prosecutors build their case without publicly disclosing how they linked the newborn to her or what led them to her as a suspect. Authorities have also not released the baby's cause of death.
The delay between the discovery of the infant's remains and Harrison's arrest has not been explained by investigators. Court records and police statements provide limited detail about the intermediate steps in the investigation.
The Charges
At her arraignment Monday, prosecutors painted a disturbing picture of the allegations against Harrison. Deputy Assistant State's Attorney Mary Caitlin Harding spoke directly to the court about the severity of the accusations.
"The case before you paints a picture of a level of depravity that is nearly inconceivable," Harding said, according to WTIC, a local Fox affiliate reporting from the courtroom.
Prosecutors allege Harrison admitted to police after her arrest that she put her newborn son in the dumpster. "The facts allege she put that newborn baby son alive in a dumpster in a remote area so that no one could save that baby's life," Harding said.
Harding told the judge that Harrison's post-arrest interviews with police had yielded "additional investigations" that could result in further charges. She argued Harrison posed a threat to society and requested a high bond amount.
Defense attorney Ryan McGuigan pushed back against the prosecution's characterization, asking for a lower bond. "She had been active in the community and has been able to maintain full-time employment," he told the court.
A judge ultimately set Harrison's bond at $2.5 million and scheduled her next court appearance for July 31.
Key Takeaways
- Dominique Harrison, 28, is charged with murder of a victim less than 16 years old in connection with her newborn son's death
- Police allege she placed the infant, still alive, into a remote dumpster in Danbury, Connecticut
- Authorities discovered the baby's remains in Stamford in 2018 but determined the killing occurred in Danbury
- Harrison was arrested nearly eight years after the initial discovery of the infant's remains
- Prosecutors say she admitted to putting her son in the dumpster and called the alleged act "a level of depravity that is nearly inconceivable"
- Defense attorney emphasized Harrison's community involvement and stable employment history
What's Next
Harrison is slated to appear in court on July 31 for continued proceedings. Prosecutors indicated their investigation remains active, with Harding noting that additional charges could follow as a result of her post-arrest interviews with investigators. The baby's cause of death has not been publicly disclosed.