Court appearance turns confrontational

AUBURN, Ind. (WANE) - An Auburn woman was charged with attempted murder Tuesday afternoon after allegedly putting her newborn daughter in a garbage bag and then putting that bag in a dumpster. Alison Lesch, 19 had nothing to say to news cameras on Tuesday as she made her way into court at the DeKalb County Courthouse.

But family and friends had plenty to say to the media before and after Lesch's court appearance.  Several people tried to block news crews from getting video of Lesch and one woman confronted NewsChannel 15's Janice Allen when she tried to ask Lesch questions.  Click on the video to see the confrontation.

Lesch appeared in the DeKalb County Superior Court at 1:00 in the afternoon.  A plea of not guilty was entered on her behalf and a bond was set at $100,000. She has posted bond so she is no longer in jail.

Many people spoke up in Lesch's defense off camera, and her uncle Wade Wildermuth made this statement:

"Floored, just really floored me. She's one of the sweetest gals I know. All I can say is she's not the monster that everybody is probably thinking that she is. We'll just take it through the system, she'll have representation, and facts will come out."

This case began when Auburn police were called to Forest Pointe Apartments in the 300 block of E. 19th St. Sunday afternoon.  A resident called 911 after she had discovered the infant when she took her trash out to the dumpster.

The resident, just happened to be a registered nurse, and police say her actions were heroic.

"This woman's quick actions, her quick thinking lead to the positive resolution, which was, ultimately saving this baby's life," said Sgt. Ron Galaviz with the Indiana State Police.

Police say when the baby girl was found, hospital officials believed she was only a few hours old. Court documents show Lesch had given birth to the baby on Saturday night in her bedroom. Lesch told police she put the baby in a basket while she cleaned up after the birth and took a shower. Lesch said she couldn't sleep all night, and in the morning, she put the baby in the garbage dumpster as she left her apartment for work.

Police believe the baby was in the dumpster for about two and half hours before another apartment resident found her. Police were quick to arrest the Lesch. Auburn Police Chief Martin McCoy says there was other evidence in and around the dumpster that helped police catch up with Lesch. Neighbors said Lesch lived in the apartment building, but had only recently moved in.

One neighbor at the apartment complex reacted very emotionally to the news. Jeanette Deke has only lived at Forest Pointe for a couple months. She said she had just taken her own garbage out before the other resident discovered the baby.

"When you throw garbage in a dumpster, you lift up the lid, throw your garbage in and walk away. To come home an hour later and find out out there was a baby in there, dealing with that is just difficult," said Deke, through tears.

The baby did receive medical attention and is in good condtion. She is in now in protective custody.

McCoy noted the unseasonably warm weather in Northeast Indiana on Sunday. Had temperatures been more in line with normal conditions this time of year, McCoy said the result of the discovery could have been very different.

"Somebody's watching over that child," said McCoy.

Use of the Indiana Safe Haven Law could have prevented this entire situation. The Safe Haven Law allows a parent to surrender their newborn child to an emergency medical services provider, no questions asked. The parent’s identity is protected, and he or she will not be prosecuted under the Safe Haven Law, for abandonment or neglect if he or she acts within 45 days of the birth, and the child is not harmed.

The emergency medical service provider is not obligated to disclose the parent’s name or their name.

Spokesperson for the Department of Child Services, Ann Houseworth says placement with a relative of the baby is not being considered right now.

Lesch is due back in court for a pre-trial hearing on January 11, 2010.