A 20-year-old woman was arrested and charged in the murder of her newborn baby boy.
A 20-year-old woman was arrested and charged in the murder of her newborn baby boy, who prosecutors said she killed and put in a trash bin outside the convenience store where she worked.
Tara Tomlin was arrested and charged with second-degree murder on Saturday, a day after New York State Police discovered her infant’s body in a plastic bag in a dumpster outside an Xrta Mart on Route 9 in the Hudson Valley.
Troopers found the newborn’s body early Friday after receiving a call from someone who said he suspected a baby was outside the store, officials said.
State Police responded at approximately 3:52 a.m. to the call made at 3:40 a.m., officials said. Their search failed to reveal the presence of any child.
Police received additional information and found the child's body about 9 a.m.
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EMTs of the Greenport Rescue squad were on the scene and determined the baby was deceased, State Police said. An autopsy determined the baby died from asphyxiation, authorities said.
Tomlin is believed to have given birth inside the gas station’s bathroom, where blood was reportedly found, according to TWC News.
Tomlin was arraigned in the Town of Livingston Court and was remanded to Columbia County Jail without bail. It was unclear if she entered a plea.
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Her attorney, Michael Howard, requested that she undergo a mental health examination to determine if she is competent to stand trial, according to reports.
He told INSIDE EDITION that she was slated to also be seen by a private psychologist on Monday.
"It's just a real tragic event," he told IE. "She's sad, she's distraught, she's a 20-year-old kid. I spent a fair amount of time with her yesterday at the jail and shes holding up, I guess as best as one could, under the circumstances."
Howard could not say if his client knew she was pregnant.
"I'm still accumulating information in regards to that question," he said.
Columbia County District Attorney Paul Czajka did not immediately return requests for comment.
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