The 27-year-old defendant Alexandra Eckersley is on trial for allegedly leaving her newborn boy outside in subzero temperatures on Christmas Day 2022, when she gave birth in the woods.
Eckersley claims she thought her kid had passed away at birth and was homeless, dealing with mental health concerns and substance misuse.
Jordan Strand, her defense lawyer, contended that Eckersley’s bipolar disease had caused her to be in a state of heightened emotional distress, and that Eckersley was unaware of her pregnancy because of her troubles.
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Strand clarified that Eckersley felt as though she had given birth to a second child as she was walking to a place where she could use a phone to seek for assistance.
Eckersley claimed giving birth to two children—one of whom lived for a short while and the other of whom passed away right away—when she dialed 911.
She has entered a not guilty plea to accusations of ass@ult, careless behavior, fabricating evidence, and putting a child’s welfare in jeopardy. The trial is still going on.