Jasmin Ritchey, South Bend Mom, Accused of Dumping Newborn in Hospital Trashcan

jasmin ritchey01.jpg
Few details were given in the hours after news broke on Tuesday that a newborn baby was found in a trashcan at Olympia's Providence St. Peter Hospital.

Now a clearer picture is beginning to form of the mother said to have left the infant there, clinging to life.

Jasmine Ritchey is a 23-year-old woman from South Bend who police say was trying to hide her pregnancy in an effort to "get her life together."

Several reports say that Ritchey had told her boyfriend and family that she wasn't pregnant, and that she had ovarian cancer and was simply bloated from chemotherapy.

Apparently the day she gave birth, Ritchey had called 911 and told the operator that her water had just broken. But when she got to the hospital she supposedly told doctors that she had ovarian cancer and was in pain.

The doctors wanted a urine test. So Ritchey went to the bathroom to pee for a sample.

She did this three times apparently, and on the third time she gave birth.

When she walked out with blood on her leg, a nurse who had heard grunting sounds earlier noticed and went in the bathroom.

There, the nurse says she found the newborn boy stuffed in a plastic bag and left in a trashcan--his face blue from a lack of oxygen.

In court on Wednesday a judge set bail at $50,000, with Ritchey expected to face charges of attempted murder and abandonment.

Police say Ritchey has already confessed to her crime.

jasmin ritchey02.jpg
Ritchey, circa 2009.
On Ritchey's blog and Facebook page, the mother talks glowingly of her boyfriend at the time, Michael, and about at least three other children, one who "wasn't here for very long" and another who's a "a blessing from the hard roads of the past."

Her blog goes into detail about all her children, including the one who died at birth.

As you can imagine. We were both very torn up about this. We had just lost our baby. It was even harder on us that it was a boy. I didn't go to work that night. While the physical pain is gone the emotional pain will never be. We still miss him everyday and think of him. He's our special angel and we love him very much.

Also on Ritchey's photography website, she appears to specialize in maternity shots.

Ritchey's newer ex-boyfriend, Tristan Williamson, is quoted showing skepticism that the child she tossed in the trashcan is his. But if so, and when he recovers, he says he'll take care of him.

"I didn't even know she was pregnant," he said. "Obviously, I want to find out if the kid is mine. And if it is, I'm going to go for custody for it."

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