American baby whose death at about 18 hours hold, on the same day of her birth, was caused by “the probable combined effects of adverse environmental conditions and methamphetamine,” according to the doctor who examined her. Little Dawn was born at home two-four weeks prematurely and showed no sign of physical injury or birth defect.
The child’s mother is Virginia Walkup, AKA Virginia Patton. Virginia was tried for second-degree murder on the allegation that her behavior was “imminently dangerous” to the baby.
The state examiner told the jury that the baby had a “toxic” concentration of methamphetamine in her system but he categorized the death as an accident, not a homicide, because of lack of evidence that anyone intended to do harm.
Little Dawn was delivered in the bathtub in a home that the police described as “filthy.” Only her mother and her 2 1/2 year old sister were present and her mother cut the umbilical cord. The patholist who testified on behalf of the defense said the death was caused by prenatal pneumonia. Indeed, a few months before the birth, Walkup had gone to the hospital with severe respiratory infection. Doctors for the state acknowledged that fluid was present in the newborn’s lungs but affirmed his belief that the cause of death was not from the disease. In a statement to the arresting police, Walkup said she had injected herself with methampetamine about six-eight hours before giving birth.
Walkup had given birth prior to this one–six times, all at hospitals. One of her babies was placed for adoption in 1997. She claimed she didn’t know she was pregnant until one-two months prior to Dawn’s birth. Walkup ws charged on October 13, 1998. On June 23, 2000 she was found guilty of second degree murder, and ion August 30, 2000 sentenced to serve a 50-year jail term.