A 20-year-old daycare employee in Iowa is facing first-degree murder charges after allegedly giving birth in a childcare facility’s bathroom, killing her newborn daughter, and discarding the infant’s body in a trash bin before attempting to resume work. Stephanie Ubaldo was taken into custody on Thursday and processed into the Dallas County Jail, where she remains held without bail.
Background
The investigation began when Dallas County Emergency Medical Services responded to Acorns & Oaks Child Care, located on the Perry Lutheran Homes Eden Acres campus, around 5 p.m. on Sept. 15. Paramedics were called to treat a woman experiencing severe vaginal bleeding. The patient, identified as Ubaldo, was transported to a local hospital for treatment.
Court filings indicate that Ubaldo had been pregnant for months but allegedly concealed her condition from colleagues and family. Investigators allege that she delivered the baby in the daycare’s bathroom and intentionally harmed the crying newborn. Just before 6:30 p.m., police received information that an infant might be inside a garbage bin at the facility. Officers responded and discovered the dead baby girl inside a trash bag.
The Charges
Perry Police announced that Ubaldo has been charged with one count of first-degree murder. The criminal complaint, cited by CBS affiliate KCCI, states that Ubaldo "intentionally caused injuries to the baby's face in an effort to stop the baby from crying." An autopsy conducted by the Iowa State Medical Examiner's Office determined the infant was between 32 and 36 weeks’ gestation and had suffered a series of injuries and abrasions across her body. The manner of death was ruled a homicide.
Perry Police Chief James Archer highlighted the existence of Iowa’s Safe Haven law, which allows parents to surrender infants up to 90 days old at designated locations, such as Dallas County Hospital and Clinic, without prosecution for abandonment. "There are numerous crisis pregnancy centers throughout the state of Iowa and resources available to those in need," Archer said in a statement. "We strongly encourage those in a crisis pregnancy to reach out, people are available to assist you, you are not alone."
Key Takeaways
- Stephanie Ubaldo, 20, was charged with first-degree murder in Dallas County, Iowa.
- The alleged crime occurred at Acorns & Oaks Child Care, where Ubaldo was employed.
- Police found the newborn’s body in a trash bag at the daycare facility.
- The infant was determined to be 32 to 36 weeks’ gestation with visible injuries.
- Ubaldo allegedly tried to return to work after the birth despite continuing to bleed.
- She is currently being held without bail at the Dallas County Jail.
What's Next
Ubaldo remains in custody without bail while awaiting her initial court appearance. It was not immediately clear when she is scheduled to appear before a judge. Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the birth and the alleged concealment of the pregnancy.