Teen mother panicked when she put newborn in trash, police say

EVERETT — A teenager allegedly told police that she panicked when she gave birth in the shower last month. She wrapped the baby boy in a towel and walked outside.

“She didn’t know what to do so she placed him in the trash,” Everett police detective Andrew Williams wrote in an affidavit filed Friday.

Samantha Houston, 18, was arrested Thursday for investigation of abandonment of a dependant person. Everett detectives received an anonymous tip Tuesday naming Houston as the possible mother. The Herald had published a front page story Monday about the ongoing search for the baby’s mother, Williams wrote.

The caller reported that Houston was up to eight months pregnant when she dropped out of school in the middle of March. She was out of school for about a month. She was no longer pregnant when she returned to classes April 18.

Houston allegedly refused to talk about what happened with her friends. She dropped out of school again a few days later and cut off contact with her friends, Williams wrote.

A friend reported to police that Houston came to her in the fall with concerns. The friend suggested that Houston, then 17, take a pregnancy test, which reportedly came back positive. The friend told detectives that Houston was showing in December and used to talk to the “baby bump.”

The new court documents do not mention the child’s father.

The baby was discovered March 25 in a trash compactor outside an apartment building in the 800 block of 112th Street SE. An unidentified woman heard his cries. She told an apartment maintenance worker, who crawled into the compactor.

Paula Andrews found the boy under trash bags and a microwave. His umbilical cord was still attached. He was only a few hours old.

“Fortunately, he was only suffering some slight hypothermia,” Williams wrote. “He has been seen by doctors since and is completely healthy.”

Houston made a brief appearance Friday in Everett District Court. A judge agreed to release her without imposing bail. Houston isn’t allowed to have contact with “Baby Doe” or any other children under the age of 10.

The boy remains in protective custody. The state Department of Social and Health Services has to go through a court process to determine the custody for abandoned babies, who often are placed in foster homes and adopted.

Her attorney argued against the no-contact order with minors.

Gabe Rothstein said that could be difficult given that she is a high school student. He said that Houston’s mother has been in touch with the principal of the school her daughter attends to look into having her do her school work at home or possibly online.

Herald writer Eric Stevick contributed to this story.

Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463, hefley@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @dianahefley.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

A firefighter stands in silence before a panel bearing the names of L. John Regelbrugge and Kris Regelbrugge during the ten-year remembrance of the Oso landslide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Flood of emotions’ as Oso Landslide Memorial opens on 10th anniversary

Friends, family and first responders held a moment of silence at 10:37 a.m. at the new 2-acre memorial off Highway 530.

Julie Petersen poses for a photo with images of her sister Christina Jefferds and Jefferds’ grand daughter Sanoah Violet Huestis next to a memorial for Sanoah at her home on March 20, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. Peterson wears her sister’s favorite color and one of her bangles. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
‘It just all came down’: An oral history of the Oso mudslide

Ten years later, The Daily Herald spoke with dozens of people — first responders, family, survivors — touched by the deadliest slide in U.S. history.

Victims of the Oso mudslide on March 22, 2014. (Courtesy photos)
Remembering the 43 lives lost in the Oso mudslide

The slide wiped out a neighborhood along Highway 530 in 2014. “Even though you feel like you’re alone in your grief, you’re really not.”

Director Lucia Schmit, right, and Deputy Director Dara Salmon inside the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management on Friday, March 8, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
How Oso slide changed local emergency response ‘on virtually every level’

“In a decade, we have just really, really advanced,” through hard-earned lessons applied to the pandemic, floods and opioids.

Ron and Gail Thompson at their home on Monday, March 4, 2024 in Oso, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In shadow of scarred Oso hillside, mudslide’s wounds still feel fresh

Locals reflected on living with grief and finding meaning in the wake of a catastrophe “nothing like you can ever imagine” in 2014.

Everett mall renderings from Brixton Capital. (Photo provided by the City of Everett)
Topgolf at the Everett Mall? Mayor’s hint still unconfirmed

After Cassie Franklin’s annual address, rumors circled about what “top” entertainment tenant could be landing at Everett Mall.

Everett
Everett man sentenced to 3 years of probation for mutilating animals

In 2022, neighbors reported Blayne Perez, 35, was shooting and torturing wildlife in north Everett.

Dorothy Crossman rides up on her bike to turn in her ballot  on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett leaders plan to ask voters for property tax increase

City officials will spend weeks hammering out details of a ballot measure, as Everett faces a $12.6 million deficit.

Starbucks employee Zach Gabelein outside of the Mill Creek location where he works on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mill Creek Starbucks votes 21-1 to form union

“We obviously are kind of on the high of that win,” store bargaining delegate Zach Gabelein said.

Lynnwood police respond to a collision on highway 99 at 176 street SW. (Photo provided by Lynnwood Police)
Police: Teen in stolen car flees cops, causes crash in Lynnwood

The crash blocked traffic for over an hour at 176th Street SW. The boy, 16, was arrested on felony warrants.

The view of Mountain Loop Mine out the window of a second floor classroom at Fairmount Elementary on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County: Everett mining yard violated order to halt work next to school

At least 10 reports accused OMA Construction of violating a stop-work order next to Fairmount Elementary. A judge will hear the case.

Imagine Children's Museum's incoming CEO, Elizabeth "Elee" Wood. (Photo provided by Imagine Children's Museum)
Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett to welcome new CEO

Nancy Johnson, who has led Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett for 25 years, will retire in June.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.