Woman Arrested After Baby Found In Dumpster

Police in Sapulpa say they have arrested a woman in the case of a baby found in a dumpster last month.

Thursday, June 4th 2009, 5:36 pm

By: News On 6

Woman Arrested After Baby Found In Dumpster

By Ashli Sims, The News On 6

SAPULPA, OK -- A Sapulpa woman is behind bars and accused of abandoning her baby in a dumpster.

Police may have their suspect, but they still don't have a motive for the crime. The case has shocked even veteran police officers.

"In my 29 years of working here at the Sapulpa Police Department, I've never seen, in my opinion, such abuse of a child," Major Jeff Gilliland said.

Instead of a cradle, a Sapulpa newborn was found nestled in a local dumpster. Just hours old, he was almost overlooked on a sunny Sunday morning.

"The first thing I seen was a little arm come out," said Jim Lakey, who found the boy. "I guess, I don't know if my eyes got big. I imagine they did. I said, ‘Oh, my God.'"

Ten days later, the woman suspected of giving birth to the infant is in jail.

Investigators say they found evidence in the dumpster that led them to 30-year-old Kristina Blackburn. They say a DNA test matched her to the baby boy.

"I was advised that she didn't show very much emotion," Gilliland said.

Police say Blackburn is not married and they don't believe she has any other children. One of her coworkers at the Sapulpa AutoZone says he did not know she was pregnant.

Investigators say Blackburn isn't talking, but they don't believe she thought the baby was dead.

"Mr. Lakey made the statement that he heard the child making noise, so I'm just assuming that whenever she put the child in there he was live and vibrant," Gilliland said.

Blackburn is being held in the Sapulpa jail on a $100,000 bond. She has been charged with child abuse.

The baby boy is in foster care and doing well.