Simone Walker, 21, who had no prior record, entered into a plea agreement on May 18 to one count of endangering the welfare of a child for the Dec. 27, 2006 crime. She told the court that she thought her child was stillborn when she disposed of him. Some people in the 5303 Harding Highway apartment complex heard the baby's cries, rescued him from the trash bin and called 911.
Walker apologized Friday for what she had done.
But Assistant Prosecutor Curt Baker stated," She double-bagged her baby and put him in a trash dumpster four to five hours after she gave birth," Baker said. "She thinks she's a victim."
When the infant was taken from the bin he was in critical condition. He remains in the custody of his biological father.
Jeremy Upton, the victim's father, told the court that his son is only here by the grace of God. "She should be held accountable for her attempt to take the life of a child. She had no regrets when she threw him away and is only showing signs of remorse because he was found alive."
Superior Court Judge James Isman said that it is because of the good neighbors in Walker's complex that the baby survived.
Anyone with information involving serious crimes is asked to call the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office at 609-909-7800 or go to the Prosecutor's Office Web site at http://www.acpo.org/tips.html and provide information by filling out the form anonymously on the Submit a Tip page. People can also call Crime Stoppers at 609-652-1234 or 1-800-658-8477 (TIPS). Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards for information leading to the arrest and indictment of those who commit crimes in Atlantic County.
