Police renew attention to Safe Havens Act after Danbury woman charged with killing newborn
Dominique Harrison, 28, of Danbury, is accused of leaving her newborn son in a remote dumpster in 2018. Police arrested her last week on a charge of murder with special circumstances, the most serious homicide charge in Connecticut.
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Police are bringing renewed attention to Connecticut's Safe Havens Act for Newborns, following the recent arrest of a Danbury woman accused of killing her newborn son by leaving him in a dumpster nearly eight years ago.
“Many people don't realize that Connecticut has a Safe Havens law that was actually passed in the year 2000,” said Detective Justin Nucera, of the Stamford Police Department.
Nucera is one of the investigators whose work led the arrest of Dominique Harrison, 28. Harrison is charged with murder with special circumstances, the most serious homicide charge in the state.
At Harrison's arraignment Monday, the prosecution called the crime “particularly heinous” and “a level of depravity that is nearly inconceivable.”
“The facts allege she put that newborn son alive in a dumpster in a remote area so that no one could save that baby's life,” Assistant State’s Attorney Mary-Mary-Caitlin Harding told the judge.
That was in Danbury in 2018. The baby's body wasn't discovered until a garbage truck brought the dumpster's contents to a trash and recycling facility in Stamford. On Oct. 16, 2018, workers at City Carting, which is now WIN Waste Innovations, discovered the newborn on a conveyer belt, police told News 12 at the time.
The case eventually led detectives to Danbury and a joint investigation with police there. Harrison was taken into custody last week, but neither department will comment on the evidence against her because the investigation isn’t over. Harrison’s arrest warrant has also been sealed, but Harding told the judge Harrison ultimately admitted to placing the newborn in the dumpster.
“She subsequently gave interviews after arrest that are leading to additional investigations, as well,” Harding said, adding that further serious charges are expected.
Though police can’t discuss details of the case, they want to remind people about the Safe Havens Act, which they call life-saving legislation. The law allows a parent to voluntarily and anonymously give up custody of an infant 30 days or younger to the staff of an emergency room. Thirty-seven ER departments across the state are designated Safe Haven sites 24 hours a day. The list includes Danbury Hospital.
“There's no repercussions or punishment for doing so as long as there's no signs of neglect or abuse to the baby,” Nucera explained. “Nursing staff there is equipped and informed about this law and what to do.”
Staff is trained to provide immediate, compassionate and judgement-free care to both baby and parent. Though staff ask for the parent's name and medical information, the parent does not have to provide it, according to the Department of Children and Families. DCF is notified of any surrender and places the baby in a pre-approved home. If the parent changes their mind within 30 days, they can begin the process of reunification through DCF.
Since 2001, 60 babies have been surrendered to emergency departments across Connecticut, according to DCF. There have been two this year, both in April. One newborn was surrendered to Yale New Haven Hospital and one to Children's Medical at UCONN Health Center, per DCF.
“There's safe options for them and for their child,” Nucera stressed.
Connecticut's law limits surrender sites to medical centers— rather than firehouses or police stations like other states — in part, to ensure access to health care at all hours.
The Legislature recently passed a bill to establish a task force to study the voluntary surrender of infants, including considerations for the best way to provide such a program without perpetuating “racial, ethnic, health, economic and socioeconomic disparities” among parents looking to surrender.
Harrison returns to court for her case on July 31.
Learn more about Connecticut's Safe Havens Act for Newborns.
