Woman charged with murder after newborn baby found abandoned in field

A Pennsylvania woman has been arrested and charged with murder after allegedly leaving her newborn to die in a field.

Key Takeaways:

• 20-year-old Jordyn Kauffman has been arrested and charged with multiple felonies, including murder.

• She allegedly gave birth to a baby girl, who was born alive, and then left her to die in a field.

• The next day, she went to the hospital seeking medical care and admitted to what she had done.

• Police are now searching for the father of the baby.

The Details:

Kauffman allegedly gave birth on May 14 at home, and then placed the baby in a field near her home before going to work, putting the placenta and umbilical cord in a trash can. The next day, when the bleeding seemingly did not stop, Kauffman went to the hospital, where she told nurses what she had done. She admitted that her baby was alive when she had abandoned her, and said her father had threatened to disown her if she ever got pregnant.

It also appears that Kauffman was aware she was pregnant and had at some point considered having an abortion. Yet she missed her appointments and did not go through with it because she felt she was too far along.

Zoom In:

The county coroner's autopsy confirmed that the baby girl was, in fact, born alive.

"This was not a peaceful or natural death. This was the death of a newborn child under deeply tragic circumstances. There are some investigations that stay with you, and this is one of them," a statement from the coroner's office said. The statement continued:

As coroner, we speak for those who can no longer speak for themselves. At the center of this investigation is a baby girl who deserved dignity, care, and a voice. My office remains committed to giving her that.

I also want to personally thank the many members of our community who have reached out to support not only this baby girl, but also the first responders, investigators, and staff involved in this case. Your kindness, prayers, and compassion do not go unnoticed.

Cases like this take a heavy emotional toll on everyone present at the scene. The support shown by this community is a reminder that even in the face of heartbreaking circumstances, there is still good in this world.

Police are now attempting to identify the father of the baby, and are asking men to voluntarily submit their DNA to determine next of kin.

Kauffman is charged with first-degree murder, endangering the welfare of children, aggravated assault, and concealing the death of a child.

The Bottom Line:

Every state has safe haven laws allowing women like Kauffman to voluntarily relinquish a newborn. In Pennsylvania, parents can bring a newborn up to 28 days old to any hospital or emergency services department anonymously and without facing charges.