W. Jordan woman charged in death of baby year ago

A West Jordan woman was charged with child abuse homicide Thursday, nearly a year after a dead baby was taken to a local hospital.

West Jordan police spokesman Capt. Gary Cox said his department became involved in the case when officials from Pioneer Valley Hospital reported the baby was dead when it arrived.

According to court documents, Kathren Putnam, 19, delivered a baby at home on Feb. 17, 2005, but never called for help, apparently concerned about repercussions from her parents.

Since police became involved in the case, detectives have been working with the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office to get charges filed.

Putnam has not been arrested because she is not considered a flight risk, Cox said. But she was served with a summons and is ordered to appear in 3rd District Court in March.

If convicted, Putnam could serve up to five years in the Utah State Prison.

Sen. Patrice Arent, D-Salt Lake, sponsored legislation in 2001 that was designed to prevent similar situations. That was back when Arent was a member of the Utah House of Representatives.

The legislation created a newborn safe haven at all Utah hospitals. The bill allows a new mother or her designee to bring a child to any hospital in the state and leave the child for care and adoption.

Most states have similar laws, Arent said Saturday.

"If you take an infant to the hospital, you can be anonymous," Arent said.

No questions are asked, and the state's Division of Child and Family Services takes custody of the child and expedites the adoption process.

A Web site, www.utahsafehaven.org, has been established to help uncertain mothers know what to do if they need to leave a child at the hospital.

There is also a toll-free phone number, 1-866-694-BABY (2229).

Arent said the hospital safe havens should be used as a third option. The first option should be for the baby to remain with the parents. The second option is for a mother to pursue normal adoption procedures.

Since the time Arent worked on the bill, she has received calls in the middle of the night from mothers, calling from pay phones.

"I lived with the guilt," at least one mother told her and thanked her for sponsoring the bill.

"It's safe for the baby," Arent said. "It's safe for the mother because she won't be prosecuted."

Hospitals are directed to not call police unless there is evidence of abuse or neglect, according to the safe haven Web site. Hospitals will not try to force a mother to identify herself, keep the baby or even provide medical information.

According to Carol Sisco, spokeswoman for DCFS, the safe havens have been used only a few times. But numbers weren't available Saturday.

"Even if it's only used once, it's well worth it," Sisco said. "Because it's saved a life."

---

E-mail: jdougherty@desnews.com