Colo. woman sentenced for killing newborn, leaving child in bag in bathroom cabinet
11/21/2023 12:45 pm PST
HIGHLANDS RANCH, Colo. (TCD) -- A judge sentenced a 22-year-old woman to several decades behind bars for killing her newborn and leaving the child's body underneath a bathroom sink.
The 19th Judicial District Attorney's Office announced Peyton Green was ordered to serve 40 years in prison after she pleaded guilty on Nov. 16 to child abuse — knowingly and recklessly causing death. She had initially been charged with first-degree murder, tampering with a deceased body, and attempt to influence a public servant.
On Sept. 26, 2020, Green went to UCHealth Highlands Ranch because she was experiencing vaginal bleeding and became worried. She agreed to undergo a Sexual Assault Nurses Examination (SANE), and nurses determined she had "extensive vaginal lacerations consistent with giving birth." Green had a blood test, which confirmed she was pregnant. Then, doctors performed an ultrasound and saw she had a dilated cervix, which pointed to pregnancy.
Doctors performed surgery on Green and found placenta in her uterus.
According to the district attorney's office, Green reportedly told doctors she never had sex or gave birth. Medical staff contacted the Douglas County Sheriff's Office about the case, so deputies went to Green's home to investigate. Her father reportedly allowed deputies into the residence to look for the child.
The statement said, "A baby’s lifeless body was found inside a tan grocery store bag underneath a towel in the cabinets below a bathroom sink."
Investigators located Green's ex-boyfriend in Colorado Springs. They interviewed him and he negated Green's original story about not having sex or being pregnant. Detectives discovered Green texted her ex and another friend that she was expecting a child.
In 2021, Douglas County detectives issued a warrant for Green's arrest. She was arrested Sept. 30, 2021, in Wyoming, and extradited back to Douglas County a few days later.
Chief Deputy District Attorney Chris Gallo said in the statement, "This defendant attempted to conceal a murder by lying to her parents, law enforcement, and medical staff. In the end, the evidence is indisputable. Blood work, an ultrasound, and surgery to repair Green’s injuries confirmed she was pregnant."
Gallo added, "Had this mother told the truth about her pregnancy or called for help after giving birth, this tragedy may have been avoided. There were multiple ways to handle an unwanted or unexpected pregnancy, but her selfish and deceitful actions to hide a birth by dumping her newborn’s body in a bag like a piece of trash certainly warrants a lengthy prison sentence."
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