Welcome to Arrest Stories. A twenty-two-year-old mother faces attempted murder charges after her newborn baby was discovered alive in a Columbus hotel dumpster, crying for help after being abandoned for nearly six hours.
Here's what may have happened according to official reports.
On Tuesday morning, September second, Zinnia Hernandez gave birth to a baby boy in the bathtub of her hotel room at the Budgetel Inn on Victory Drive in Columbus. After delivering the child, Hernandez reportedly left to do laundry. Upon returning, she made a decision that would lead to serious criminal charges.
According to police reports, Hernandez took deliberate steps to dispose of her newborn. Officials stated she opened a white and blue trash bag, placed the baby, placenta, and the cord all in the trash bag, tied that bag, and then placed it into an additional white and blue bag. The child was double bagged and placed into the dumpster for about five and a half to six hours.
The infant's cries around six thirty that evening caught someone's attention, leading to the discovery. The baby was found with umbilical cord and placenta still attached, having survived hours in the dumpster. Emergency responders immediately transported the newborn to Piedmont Columbus Regional Hospital.
Two days later, on September fourth, authorities arrested Hernandez on charges including Criminal Attempt Murder, Reckless Conduct, and Abandonment of a Dependent Child. Her bond was set at twenty thousand dollars.
During questioning, Hernandez admitted to giving birth and leaving her baby alive in the dumpster. The infant is now in the custody of the Division of Family and Children Services.
This case has reignited discussions about safe haven laws and resources for mothers in crisis. One advocate noted the frustration, saying it really angers me when a baby is found in a dumpster in a state where we've tried to pass legislation providing alternatives for struggling mothers.
All suspects presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Do not take this report as factual, always verify facts. Thanks for watching Arrest Stories.
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