Metro Detroit Mother Charged With Murder After Newborn Baby Found Dead In Dumpster
EASTPOINTE (WWJ) - An Eastpointe mother whose newborn baby was found dead in a recycling center Dumpster has been charged with first degree murder and child abuse.
Angela Alexie, 24, was arraigned Wednesday in 38th District Court, where a not guilty plea was entered on her behalf.
Judge Karl Gerds III set bond at $1 million cash or surety.
According to police, Alexie, who has three other children, gave birth Dec. 22 to a baby boy at a friend's house where she'd been staying. She allegedly kept the newborn in a garage for two days — until he died on Christmas Eve. On Christmas Day, police said Alexie admitted she bundled him up and left him in a shed.
The infant's frozen body was discovered Jan. 14 among newspapers at the ReCommunity Recycling Center on Groesbeck Highway, between 12 and 13 Mile roads in Roseville. He was naked with his umbilical cord still attached, police said, and his body was wrapped in a black T-shirt.
"We believe the baby was alive for a couple days after that, at which time the baby passed away," Roseville Police Chief James Berlin. "She concealed the body for a couple weeks until somehow it ended up in this recycling Dumpster and then it was brought to the city of Roseville."
"She will not admit that she placed the body into a recycling bin, so obviously somebody did. We believe she acted alone - we don't believe anyone acted in concert with this but somehow it was placed in this recycling bin and placed curbside ...," he said.
Asked by the judge if she was employed, she said: "no."
"How do you pay your bills?" asked Judge Gerds.
"I don't," Alexie said.
The situation upset many in the community.
"If she didn't want the baby, take it to a police station, take it to a hospital," said Carol, a neighbor. "I think it's horrible."
Alexie denies she took the baby where he was later found dead and police believe someone may have mistaken the bundled baby for trash.
Alexie has no prior criminal record and is unmarried. She was arrested Monday after police received tips from suspicious family and friends who saw the story on the news.
The baby's father is yet unknown, police said.
Unless she's able to post bond, Alexie will be held at the Macomb County Jail until a probable cause hearing set for 8 a.m. Feb. 4.