DENVER (KDVR/CNN) – A 16-year-old mother will be tried as an adult in the murder of her newborn after police say she shoved a rock down the baby’s throat following a surprise delivery.
Authorities say the infant, named Amekah, was killed shortly after birth in early September and pronounced dead at the hospital.
An autopsy revealed the cause of death was suffocation.
The baby’s mother, 16-year-old Alaya Dotson, told police she didn’t know she was pregnant until she gave birth.
After the surprise delivery, police say Dotson took the baby to the backyard. Dotson says the baby fell out of her arms after her mom walked outside and startled her.
Police say when Dotson’s mom went back inside, Dotson picked up a rock and put it inside the newborn’s mouth. She admitted to pushing the rock down the baby’s throat, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Dotson is facing a first-degree murder charge, the district attorney’s office says. She will be tried as an adult.
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