Newly released court documents confirmed that Sarah Tatum, 19, a pre-business sophomore, put her newborn baby in a bag after she gave birth in the shower of Arizona-Sonora Residence Hall on Monday. When police cut open the bag the full term 7-pound baby boy was “”gasping for air.””
An interim complaint filed in Pima County Justice Court stated that Tatum told police she had “”miscarried”” the baby and had put it in a bag that she then left at the foot of her bed.
The document said when Tatum was talking about what happened in the shower, at one point she said, “”After the baby died.””
The baby is currently in critical condition and being cared for at University Medical Center.
After birth, the baby was left in the bag, along with Tatum’s dirty clothes, for at least two hours, according to a UMC physician who was referenced in the complaint. The doctor said the baby was suffering from hypoxia, or oxygen deprivation.
Tatum, who was released to Pretrial Services following her initial court appearance Wednesday night, will still have to meet with a UA code of conduct officer before she will be allowed back on campus, said UA Dean of Students Carol Thompson.
“”The individual student is notified of what the (reinstatement) process is,”” Thompson said. “”They need to initiate the contact with us to be able to begin the process of addressing the interim suspension.””
Tatum is awaiting her preliminary hearing March 17 in Pima County Justice Court.