Mother Charged with Murder After Allegedly Stabbing Teen Daughter's Newborn

A 31-year-old woman in Washington state has been charged with second-degree murder and criminal mistreatment after allegedly stabbing her teenage daughter’s newborn baby. The tragic incident unfolded at Mary Bridge Children's Hospital in Tacoma, where the 14-year-old girl arrived carrying a cardboard box containing the deceased infant.

According to court documents obtained by local news outlets, the teenager gave birth to a boy on February 10 without realizing she was pregnant. Her mother, Dayjanay Thomas, allegedly failed to seek immediate medical assistance for her daughter despite being informed of the pregnancy several months prior by their landlord. Instead, Thomas reportedly told her daughter they would wait for a friend to drive them to the hospital.

The landlord, who had noticed signs of the teen's pregnancy but was dismissed when she brought it up with Thomas, eventually agreed to transport both women to the medical facility around 6:45 p.m. that evening. Upon arrival at the hospital, staff discovered the newborn’s body inside a cardboard box carried by the teenager.

An autopsy revealed that the baby had sustained eight sharp-force injuries and multiple blunt-force trauma to his head, leading to his death as a result of homicide. Police conducted a thorough investigation which included searching Thomas' apartment where they found evidence such as bloodstains on the floor and in the bathroom sink, along with a serrated knife and scissors.

Text messages exchanged between Thomas and her daughter on the day of the birth were also analyzed by detectives. One message from Thomas instructed her daughter to inform authorities that neither she nor their landlord had been aware of the pregnancy or any complications during childbirth.

Thomas was initially arrested on February 23 for criminal mistreatment but faced additional charges when prosecutors filed a second-degree murder charge against her in August following further investigation into the baby's death. She remains in custody at Pierce County Jail with bail set at $500,000 and is prohibited from contacting her daughter until her next court appearance scheduled for October 1.

Neither the teenager nor their landlord have been charged in connection with the infant’s death. The case highlights significant concerns regarding maternal health awareness and the potential consequences of neglecting medical care during pregnancy and childbirth.