Chandler Police: Woman accused of killing son searched online for ways to do it
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CHANDLER, Ariz. (AP/KSAZ) -- A 19-year-old woman accused of drowning her month-old son in a bathtub did more than 100 online searches for ways to kill an infant, police in Chandler said Thursday.
Detective Seth Tyler with the Chandler Police Department says the child's mother, 19-year-old Jenna Folwell,was booked into Maricopa County Jail overnight on one count of first-degree murder.
According to police, Folwell has admitted to drowning her one-month-old baby boy, Rainer, after interviewing Folwell at the police headquarters. Folwell made her initial court appearance Thursday. The baby's father was also in court. He became emotional, as he addressed the judge.
"I will never...she took away my life with Rainer the moment she took his life," said the man.
Police say Folwell put her son's body in a duffel bag in their apartment before calling police from Brooks Crossing Park at around 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday to report that a stranger abducted him.
Police say officers found the dead child in the apartment just after 3:30 p.m. and Folwell said that she'd found the infant face down in the bathtub after she passed out or fainted.
"Evidence gathered on the scene revealed Jenna [Folwell] was the person that drowned the baby earlier that day," said Sgt. Daniel Mejia with Chandler Police.
Police say they later confronted Folwell with her phone's search history.
"The search history started with `ways to die instantly' and ended with` missing babies cases,"' the police statement said. "Other searched items included how long it takes babies to drown, five types of parents who kill, reasons parents kill their babies and sudden infant death syndrome."
The statement also added that there were "over 100 different searches on these types of topics".
Confronted about the searches, Folwell acknowledged doing them and "getting in the bathtub with her son and then letting him go," the statement said. "Jenna said she settled on this way because she did not want to hear her son cry."
The statement says Folwell told investigators she regretted her decision after her son was in the tub for about a minute and attempted CPR before putting his body in the duffel bag and going to the park.
Court records don't list an attorney who could comment on the allegations.
Despite a plea by the baby's father for the judge to deny Folwell bond, she is niw being held on a $1,000,000 cash bond.
There are resources for new parents who feel overwhelmed.
Maricopa County Behavioral Health provider - Mercy Care
Mental Health Crisis Line: 602-222-9444 or 1-800-631-1314 (toll free) or 1-800-327-9254
Southern Arizona Behavioral Health Provider - Cenpatico
Mental health Crisis Line: 1-866-495-6735
Northern Arizona Behavioral Health Provider - Health Choice
Mental health Crisis Line: 1-877-756-4090
Experts say parents who are feeling homicidal or suicidal can call 911 or go to the nearest hospital for help.