"Newborn Jane" CIESLAK/ Accused: Wanda Cieslak - LaFolette TN

A woman who was already identified as a person of interest in the death of a newborn baby found
dead in a garbage bag just outside of LaFollette city limits faces
murder charges in connection with the infant's death.


Wanda Cieslak was charged with First Degree Murder
and Aggravated Child Abuse and Neglect, Chief Jimmy Jeffries announced
on Tuesday. Jeffries added that while they are still awaiting the final
results of the autopsy, the preliminary report could not find any
reason the child was not born alive and healthy.

The newborn was discovered wrapped in a blanket
inside a bag shortly after one o'clock early Friday morning in the 100
block of Hatmaker Drive. Officials believe the baby was born in a home
in the 500 block of South Indiana Ave. that was quarantined for
methamphetamine production on October 11. They think the baby was born two days later.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigations is continuing to perform polygraphs on individuals
believed to be involved in the case, with Jefferies stating, "This case
is still being worked to full investigation and did not stop with Cieslak's arrest."

Cieslak was already in custody after being picked up on a bench warrant on Friday.
http://www.volunteertv.com/home/headlines/132551048.html

Mother charged in newborn's death in East Tennessee

11:29 AM, Oct. 26, 2011


LAFOLLETTE — Campbell County authorities have charged a woman with first-degree murder in the death of her newborn, whose body was found more than a week later in a trash bag.

Authorities believe that Wanda Cieslak, 39, was doing drugs in a house where police discovered a methamphetamine lab and then gave birth to a baby boy on Oct. 13.

Police believe she killed the newborn, wrapped him in a garbage bag and left him on the front porch of a nearby home, where he was found on Oct. 21.

Cieslak was also charged Tuesday with aggravated child abuse. A police affidavit said that Cieslak had drugs in her system prior to giving birth.

She is being held at the Campbell County jail on a $500,000 bond. No attorney was listed for her in jail records.

LaFollette Police Department Chief Jimmy Jeffries said they are waiting on results from an autopsy to determine the exact time of death of the child. A pathologist found the baby died of asphyxiation.

Jefferies said a preliminary report on the baby’s death indicated “there was no reason to believe that it was not born alive and healthy.”

He said they are also waiting for toxicology results to determine what kind of drugs were in Cieslak’s system.

“I can say we suspect oxycodone being one of the drugs,” Jeffries said.

Court records show that Cieslak was arrested for child abuse and neglect in 2009 and was sentenced to one year in jail. Jefferies said Cieslak has other children, but he did not know how many, only that they were in protective custody.


http://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20111026/NEWS01/111026021/Mother-charged-newborn-s-death-East-Tennessee

Wanda Cieslak appeared in court for a preliminary hearing Tuesday
morning. She faces charges for first degree murder and aggravated child
abuse after her newborn's body was found in a trash bag. The Medical
Examiner testified there is evidence that the baby was born alive, but
tests which will determine the exact cause of death are still pending.

Lieutenant Brandon Elkins with the Campbell County Sheriff's Department spoke with Cieslak after the infants body was found.

"She said to us that she had used some prescription narcotics that
day approximately three Roxicodone pills, 30 milligram, and I think four
Xanax's," said Elkins on the witness stand.

The judge determined there is enough evidence to send this case to a grand jury.

Elkins testified Cieslak told him she snuck into her boyfriend's
house in LaFollette on South Indiana Avenue through a window when she
started having labor pains. The house had recently been quarantined
because of meth. She said she delivered the baby in the house, wrapped
him in blankets, and fell asleep. She said when she woke up several
hours later, the baby was dead. She said she covered him up more and
placed him in a trash bag. She said she was afraid to call law
enforcement because she wasn't supposed to be in the house.

The Grand Jury will meet on December 2nd.
http://www.wbir.com/news/article/189667/2/Hearing-reveals-new-information-in-Campbell-Co-infant-death