Alexandra Eckersley is a woman from New Hampshire who left her newborn in the freezing cold and wandered off. According to police reports Alexandra Eckersley would give birth to the newborn inside of a tent in New Hampshire before leaving the newborn. When she was asked the location of the newborn she refused to tell police. Eventually police were able to locate the newborn and Alexandra Eckersley would be arrested and charged with endangering the welfare of a child, assault, falsifying physical evidence and felony charge of reckless conduct. Alexandra Eckersley who is the adopted daughter of MLB player Dennis Eckersley which is the only reason this particular case is getting any coverage
Alexandra Eckersley More News
A judge set bail Tuesday for a homeless woman accused of giving birth in the woods and abandoning her newborn on Christmas night.
Alexandra Eckersley, 26, appeared in court by phone from a hospital and pleaded not guilty to charges including second-degree assault, endangering the welfare of a child, falsifying physical evidence and reckless conduct.
In court Tuesday, prosecutor Carl Olson requested Eckersley be held on preventative detention. He argued that she was already out on bail for a separate endangering-the-welfare-of-a-child case out of Concord and failed to appear for an October court date in that case.
“Sometimes, actions really do speak louder than words, and her actions were not of somebody seeking help,” Olson said.
According to Olson, her family said they had offered to help and give her a place to stay – if she sought out treatment – and she did not do so. Her mother said she feels the safest place for Eckersley to be is incarcerated, according to officials.
“This is an incredibly fortunate circumstance that the child was found when it was, and it didn’t delay further,” Olson said.
Defense attorney Jordan Strand argued that Eckersley should be released on personal recognizance bail and that her actions, including calling 911 after the birth, show no evidence of dangerousness.
“I think that what this affidavit shows is that someone asked for help when they needed it,” Strand said. “This is a woman who unexpectedly gave birth while she is being unhoused and living in a tent, and we don’t penalize people for being unhoused and living in a tent.”
In her order, Judge Diane Nicolosi set bail at $3,000 cash. Conditions of bail include that Eckersley cannot have direct or indirect contact with her newborn son and that she must live at a sober living facility or with her parent or another residence approved by the state or court if no agreement is reached.
Eckersley was arrested Monday. She is accused of telling first responders she gave birth to a prematurely born baby boy on a soccer field. Crews searched in the wrong area for an hour before police said she informed them of the true location of the tent, officials said.
First responders raced down a footpath in the dark to reach the child, who was described by fire officials as moving, not crying, exposed and in the cold, without a blanket and next to a bed covered in blood. The temperature was around 15-18 degrees.
According to court paperwork, Eckersley said she did not know she was pregnant, but detectives said they spoke with someone who knew Eckersley and that she told them a week prior she was at least four months pregnant.
https://www.wmur.com/article/alexandra-eckersley-manchester-new-hampshire-news1/42349296