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Last updated: November 9, 2009 10:06 a.m.

Auburn infant found in trash

Newborn survives; young mom faces murder-try count

Michael Zennie
The Journal Gazette
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Police arrested a 19-year-old Auburn mother on charges that she left her newborn girl to die in a trash bin at her apartment complex Sunday.

A woman found the infant in the bin in the 300 block of East 19th Street in Auburn about 1:20 p.m. She was throwing away trash when she heard a cry and dug through the garbage to the infant girl, Indiana State Police Detective Mark Heffelfinger said.

The baby was taken to a hospital, where she remains in fair condition. She did not appear to have any injuries. The infant was about two to four hours old when placed in the bin and was in the bin about three hours, authorities said.

Police used evidence at the scene to track the mother, Alison Lesch, who police said admitted to leaving her baby. Heffelfinger said Lesch told police she did not know what to do after she gave birth.

She was arrested about 11 p.m. on a charge of attempted murder.

Under Indiana law, Lesch could have left her baby in the custody of an emergency responder and not faced criminal charges.

mzennie@jg.net