A Connecticut woman was charged with murder eight years after she allegedly left her newborn son in a dumpster.
Dominique Harrison appeared in court on Monday, June 22, for an arraignment hearing after she was charged with murder, according to News 12.
The outlet reported that the charges were in connection to Harrison’s son, who was found dead in Stamford in October 2018.
The boy’s body was discovered at a waste collection center in Stamford after it was brought there by a truck, which dumps trash and recyclables there. Police launched an investigation into the matter and determined that the child had been killed about 30 miles away in Danbury.
Officers with the Danbury Police Department arrested Harrison on Thursday, June 18. However, authorities did not publicly reveal how they confirmed that the boy was Harrison’s son or why it took eight years for her to be arrested.
“The facts allege she put that newborn baby son alive in a dumpster in a remote area so that no one could save that baby’s life,” Assistant State’s Attorney Mary Caitlin Harding said about the case, according to Fox 61.
Harding went on to state that she was not able to discuss any additional details of the case publicly. However, she said that the “facts all will point to the fact that this defendant murdered her newborn child.”
Harding stated that Harrison participated in several police interviews and admitted that she left the child in a dumpster, per News 12. The attorney added that it is likely Harrison will face additional serious charges.
“The state believes this defendant is a danger to society and in light of all the facts and circumstances here, Your Honor, the state’s asking for a $2.5 million bond,” Harding stated, per the outlet.
Judge Sean McGuinness agreed with the comment about the bond and raised Harrison’s bond from $750,000, which was the bail commissioner’s initial recommendation.
It is not currently clear if Harrison has entered a plea following her arrest. She has since retained an attorney, and News 12 reported that her lawyer requested that she be placed on suicide watch while she is in custody.
Harrison’s attorney, Francisco Cardona, also told the outlet that his client was born and raised in Danbury. She graduated from high school and was working towards a bachelor’s degree at the time of her arrest.
Cardona added that Harrison has no prior criminal record and she is being supported by her family in light of the arrest.
Harrison is expected to return back to court on July 31.
