Nevada – In a disturbing incident in Nevada that caught nationwide attention, a 28-year-old mother, identified as T. Dickinson, is facing serious charges after abandoning her newborn son in a dumpster earlier this month, marking the second time she has reportedly discarded a child. Authorities say Dickinson left the newborn baby wrapped in a towel and stuffed inside a garbage bag in an apartment complex dumpster, claiming she hoped someone would find him.
Dickinson was arrested last week and charged with attempted murder and first-degree child abuse, neglect, or endangerment. According to the district attorney’s office, the newborn was placed in the dumpster during the early morning hours of July 5. A passerby heard the baby’s cries coming from the garbage bin and alerted authorities, ultimately saving the child’s life.
Sheriff D. Balaam called the citizen a “hero” in a public statement. “We are grateful for the brave citizen who intervened – truly a hero whose actions saved this baby’s life – and for the work of our detectives in identifying and arresting those responsible for causing harm to this child,” Balaam said. “While we cannot undo the trauma, we do pursue justice for our most vulnerable citizens.” Authorities confirmed the baby was doing well following the rescue, though they initially withheld details due to the sensitive nature of the case and the involvement of a minor.
Details emerged during Dickinson’s bond hearing last week. Sheriff’s Detective C. Adams testified that Dickinson gave birth around 2:30 a.m. on July 5 in her bathroom. She reportedly used a towel to lift the baby from the toilet, wrapped him fully in the towel, placed him in a garbage bag, and by 3:33 a.m., was seen on surveillance footage leaving the bag in a dumpster outside her apartment. Adams stated that Dickinson told investigators she had no idea she was pregnant until she gave birth. “In her panic, she thought that was her best option,” the detective said in court.
Dickinson has two other children, ages 4 and 10, and reportedly told authorities she had “no desire to have any more children,” citing that her family was struggling financially, living paycheck to paycheck. She claimed she left the newborn in the dumpster hoping that someone would find him. During the hearing, prosecutors revealed a disturbing history. They shared that Dickinson had allegedly abandoned another child two years earlier. “The incident occurred in 2023 with the Defendant alleging that she had suffered a miscarriage and left the baby in a dumpster at a different apartment complex,” said a spokesperson for the DA’s office in a video posted on social media. That baby did not survive. At the time, authorities did not submit a case for prosecution, citing the circumstances and lack of evidence.
Prosecutors are now using the past incident to paint a troubling pattern of behavior in the current case. Dickinson is currently held at county jail on a $1 million cash-only bond. She is scheduled to appear in court again on July 23. If convicted of the charges, she faces the possibility of decades behind bars. The sheriff’s office emphasized the importance of safe haven laws, which allow parents to safely surrender unwanted infants at designated locations such as fire stations or hospitals without fear of prosecution. Sheriff Balaam underscored the tragedy, saying, “There are resources in place that can help prevent these heartbreaking incidents.”
The community remains shaken by the news, and many have expressed outrage and sadness over the fate of both babies. The DA’s office and law enforcement agencies are urging anyone struggling with an unwanted pregnancy or newborn to reach out for help. As the case moves forward, the story serves as a painful reminder of the importance of awareness, support, and intervention when it comes to the most vulnerable lives.
