Infant SMALLWOOD - Newborn - Punta Gorda FL

Dead baby found in Punta Gorda woman's freezer

3:24 PM, Jan 31, 2012




Police tape ropes off a Punta Gorda home where investigators say a dead baby was found stored in a freezer.

PUNTA GORDA, Florida (WINK) - Punta Gorda police say an infant was found dead inside the freezer of a Boca Grande Blvd. home Monday night.

Investigators identified the mother as 27-year-old Jessica Smallwood, who lived at the home with her three other children. Crime scene units continue to search the residence, as they are calling the infant's death suspicious.

Police expanded the crime scene, blocking off much of Boca Grande Blvd. looking for clues. Cadaver dogs from the Sarasota Sheriff's Office were also brought in to help, although investigators would not comment if they found anything.

The story unfolded Monday night, when police say Smallwood went to the hospital, bleeding. While at the hospital, she told doctors some information, which prompted them to call police. When officers arrived, they found the infant dead in the freezer. It's unclear how the infant died.

Smallwood has been released from the hospital and has not been charged with anything. D.C.F. is also investigating.

Smallwood's other three children have been removed from the home and placed in foster care. A spokesperson said the agency has received prior reports ivolving this family, however, none involved allegations of physical abuse

http://www.wtsp.com/news/article/235590/19/Dead-baby-found-in-Punta-Gorda-womans-freezer

Police: Newborn's corpse found in freeze

Posted: Jan 31, 2012 10:24 AM EST Updated: Jan 31, 2012 4:06 PM


Sheriff's K9 unit searching a field near the home (Josh Repp / NBC2)


(Josh Repp / NBC2)

Police investigating suspicious death of infant

Updated:
Tuesday, January 31 2012 9:12 AM ESTOfficials with the Punta Gorda Police Department are investigating the death of an infant – a death they say is suspicious in nature.

PUNTA GORDA, FL - Police are spending a second day investigating the death of a newborn, after the baby's corpse was found in a freezer at a home on Boca Grande Boulevard in Punta Gorda.

Investigators have shut down Boca Grande Boulevard from US 41 to Narranja Street as they continue their search for clues.

Punta Gorda police say officers responded to 320 Boca Grande Boulevard around 8 p.m. Sunday to a medical call about a woman who was bleeding heavily.

The woman, identified as Jessica Smallwood, 27, was taken to Peace River Medical Center.

Hospital officials contacted police to investigate Smallwood because she had a suspicious story.

That's when police found the dead baby in the freezer in the house.

Police say Smallwood did not report the death of the baby, and she is reportedly not cooperating with investigators.

Police confirm they are checking the sewer lines at the home on Boca Grande Boulevard to search for evidence. They have also brought in cadaver dogs from Sarasota to assist in the search for evidence.

Smallwood and the father of at least two of her children, Kevin Garcia, were called to a custody hearing Tuesday morning. Jessica Smallwood's parents were given custody of the three other children that live with the couple.

The judge said Jessica's parents must be present if Garcia and Smallwood are with the children.

Neighbors say the children, two girls and a boy, are all under 10 years old. In court, it was revealed that Smallwood's oldest child is from another relationship.

The judge also said that arrangement could change if the couple were to face charges after the police investigation.

According to DCF, they've been involved with the family twice before over several years.

They say the incidents have never involved physical abuse. DCF would not go into specifics about the cases, but say other reasons they could visit a home would involve drug abuse or children being unsupervised.

http://www.nbc-2.com/story/16635773/2012/01/31/police-investigating-suspicious-death-of-infant