June 8, 2005

Contact: Lynn Kimbrough, 720-913-9025 

MOTHER SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR BABY’S DEATH

A woman who gave birth at home last summer and left the baby in a dumpster has been sentenced to prison today. 

21-year-old Griselle Suarez (DOB: 04-17-84) was sentenced to 16 years in prison for the death of her newborn baby boy in June 2004.  Denver District Court Judge Michael Mullins acknowledged aggravating factors in the case but told the courtroom of family members he felt that 16 years, which was the minimum sentence possible, was appropriate.

Suarez gave birth in a bathroom in her home and then put the baby in a box that she took out to a dumpster behind the house.  Family members found her a short time later and rushed her to the hospital where medical personnel determined she had just given birth.  The baby was still alive when found but died later at the hospital.  She was originally charged with first-degree murder and child abuse resulting in death.  The pleaded guilty to child abuse resulting in death and in exchange for that plea the first-degree murder charge was dropped.

-30-