Editor’s Update Friday April 29th 4:00 PM: Today an Everett District Court judge released 18-year-old Samantha Carol Houston who was being held in the Snohomish County jail on probable cause for ABANDON OF DEPENDENT PERSONS 2 which is a felony. The judge ordered Houston to not have any contact with anyone under the age of 10 years old or the baby she allegedly abandoned. The Snohomish County Prosecutor’s office will now decide on the filing of formal charges. According to probable cause papers Houston gave birth to the baby in the shower at an apartment on March 25th and told police she panicked and wrapped the baby in a towel and put the newborn in the compactor. She was interviewed and arrested Thursday at Cascade High School.
Officers outside the dumpster on March 25th
Since March 25th, detectives have searched for the parents of the newborn boy left in a dumpster. They pursed leads provided by the community and sought information about an unidentified woman who was at the dumpster before 8:20 p.m. on the night of the incident.
On April 26th, detectives received an anonymous tip indicating a local high-school girl was potentially the mother. The girl had been pregnant while attending school but dropped out for about a month. Upon returning, she was no longer pregnant and refused to talk with friends about what happened.
Detectives confirmed the tip and interviewed an 18 year-old female named SH, of Everett, this afternoon. She admitted to giving birth on March 25th and panicked. She wrapped the newborn in a towel and walked with him outside. She stated she didn’t know what to do and placed the newborn in the dumpster. SH was booked into the Snohomish County Jail on charges of abandonment of a dependent person (RCW 9A.42.070).
The newborn was taken to Providence Regional Medical Center Everett and has since been placed in the custody of the State Department of Social and Health Services. He is said to be healthy.
Detectives will continue to investigate the case.
April 28, 2016
Everett, Police Blotter