Media

Infant Found Dead On Driveway of Northaven Home Mother Facing Charges

Release Date: August 4, 2006

Shelby County Sheriff’s Detectives say the mother of a newly-born baby has been charged in connection with the infant’s death.  The baby was found dead this morning in the driveway of a North Shelby County home.

The baby’s head and part of its upper body were found by Anna Harwell, 60, who lives at a house in the 5000 block of Carterville Place in Northaven.  Ms. Harwell said she noticed the remains just after 8 o’clock this morning. 

Deputies along with investigators with the Shelby County Medical Examiner’s Office determined the partial corpse was that of a newly born baby.

Sheriff’s Office Emergency Service Volunteers were called to the North Shelby County home with specially trained dogs that detect human flesh.  The dogs then found a trash bag that contained the baby in a wooded area behind a home nearby.

After questioning residents at that house in the 5000 block of Chesterton Cove, Sierra Williams, 20, admitted to Deputies that she gave birth to the baby on July 21, 2006. Williams said the baby was not alive when it was born and she panicked after delivering it.                                      

Deputies believe the Harwell’s family dog, a four month old Pit Bull, found the bag containing the infant and then drug the body to driveway of their home.

Ms. Williams has refused to tell investigators whether the infant was a boy or a girl.

The Shelby County Medical Examiner will be conducting an autopsy on the infant’s remains to help determine the exact age and cause of the baby’s death.

Sierra Williams has been charged with Reckless Homicide and remains at Jail East, the Shelby County jail for women, without bond. 

A picture of Sierra Williams will be released when her booking process is completed.

No others are expected to be charged in the case.

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