From the MCPD Tuesday evening, January 10th: “Unfortunately, there is no new information at this time.”
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Mason City police are asking for assistance from the public in locating a new born baby.
Lt. Ron Vande Weerd told NorthIowaToday.com that police were called to the IowaWorks office, located at 600 south Pierce Avenue, on Friday, January 7th to investigate an umbilical cord and placenta found in a restroom by cleaning staff. No baby was found and police proceeded to search and investigate the situation.
Vande Weerd says the mother was identified as Chanel Hanley, 19 years old, from Charles City and is not cooperative at this time.
The baby is pre-mature (about 29-32 weeks) and about 3 pounds.
Police are still searching the area and are asking for the public’s help or information. Please call the Mason City Police Department at 641-421-3636 with any information.
I have sat back and read most of the comments coming in on this while I have myself contemplated this story. Life to me is something so valuable, it is not to be taken lightly. It means, both the taking of a life, and giving of it, because in all essence, it is not us who give either.
We live in glass houses, all of us! I for one, am not going to cast any stones, (my aim is that bad) because there is no halo under my cap. Yet I guess all of us recognize a mistake was made by this girl, perhaps more. She must atone for it on her own, both to herself, and society.
It upsets me that this sort of thing happens. As one lady made mention (and a good observation at that), it occurs a lot in big places like Chicago, enough where either it gets swept under the rug by more horrible things, or society becomes numb to it.
It would be better if this girl would give the straight truth to the authorities. Not for us nosy neighbors, but for her own welfare. In the mean time, pity her, if only because none of us would ever want to be in her shoes.
Well said.
Is this Agnes of God part 2?
Jason is a tard. Stop stealing your neighbors internet & go out & HELP instead of sitting on the computer arguing against the facts.
Jason, you are an idiot, get off your computer & go defend this broad in court, because that’s where she’ll be going. Everyone thinks you’re crazy. Crystal has lots of valid points. A “sleeping” baby at birth, IS A STILLBORN baby. You are a moron.
“The facts are that this girl had a baby, whether it was sleeping or alive.” Not disputed. But I notice you don’t give the chance it was stillborn.
“The whereabouts of this baby are unknown.” Only to the police and the public at large.
“Don’t defend this, if this “mother” was not evil, she would cooperate & help police.” Interesting, good or evil can easily determined by the cooperation or lack thereof with the police. I’ll alert the media.
“Don’t say I don’t do anything to help the less fortunate, I volunteer MANY places. Not that MY creditability is in question here.” Your credibility WAS never in question, now however. Maybe you should try volunteering in a different endeavor and learn some humility.
“Harp on the good people & defend this monster.”
That is the difference between us, you see the rabble advocating the sterilization, inprisonment and torture as “good. I see them as nothing more than the chaotic outcome of vigilantism. PS I am not defending this young woman. I am honest enough to realize that I do not have ALL the FACTS to make a decision one way or the other.
“You are crazy.” Thank you, I relish the fact you YOU think I am crazy.
VERY SAD STORY.
Just another welfare maggot! This is one female that should be sterilized, 2nd baby at 19 y/o. Her other child should be taken away immediately! So sad so many females know how to screw the system over and get government aid – to no limits – and keep putting out babies like rabbits! They pass it on from generation to generation and the U.S. Government keeps promoting more of this type behavior by allowing them to keep reproducing. Lets put a limit on illegitimate babies the government will support – only 1 illegit baby per female. Why not give it a try? Lesson learned. Obviously this gal has taken advantage of the system , she is NOT a victim – but a USER/ABUSER! Hate my comments all you want, but you know it is the truth.
Shanell if you see this PLEASE!! tell the MCPD the truth so people can relax, there making me sick with all the evil thiings there saying about you. I know you are a good person, if you are afraid you know you can call me and talk to me. I remember when I was going through a situation, you were there for me as a listening ear. Remember 2010, we said together no BS is expected in are lives….SO PLEASE DO THE RIGTH THING TO STOP THIS MADDNESS… WE LOVE YOU
Feel sorry for you if you LOVE her, lol! You can’t even spell her God forsaken name.
I agree with Whitney below, if she did kill her baby or have a still born all you people worked over up over it should get on some right to life committees or something. Whether done in a hospital of back room it is no more or less evil, the only difference is the sanitary conditions and safety of the mother. As far as the baby goes, it dies either way. That is if that is what happened, I believe in reserving judgement until we have the full facts and story.
I agree, a life is a life. Full term pregnant or just conceived. Abortion & this upset me equally. I pray for these babies whose mother’s don’t want them. There are lots of men & women who desperately want children & are unable to have them. So sad. :’-(
Sorry Crystal, but the lots of men & women who desperately want children & are unable to have them” want healthy young babies. We have plenty of children stuck in foster homes who deserve loving families.
This girl may or may not have done anything illegal, but please don’t judge her on you own sense of moral values.
Jason, WTH to you mean, don’t judge her? A woman that won’t cooperate with law enforcement & her pre-mie baby is MISSING?? I will judge her all I want & so will everyone else that has a brain in their head. There’s NO excuse for what happened here & there NEVER will be.
What the Hell went on here? YOU DO NOT HAVE A CLUE. The FACTS are: a placenta and umbilical cord were found., the young woman was found linked too these items, and she doesn’t want to cooperate with the MCPD. THAT is it. Nothing more. You have invented everything else. You have invented a live birth. You have invented a lost “premee”. Suppose the premee is in the care of a “loving, caring, childless couple”. What then. Until all the FACTS are known and shatred with the public, you are all just venting you own moral indignation and judging with your feigned moral superiority, snug behind your computer screen while doing nothing to help those less fortunate. Hell some of you want to TORTURE the young woman.
The facts are that this girl had a baby, whether it was sleeping or alive. The whereabouts of this baby are unknown. Don’t defend this, if this “mother” was not evil, she would cooperate & help police. Don’t say I don’t do anything to help the less fortunate, I volunteer MANY places. Not that MY creditability is in question here. Harp on the good people & defend this monster. You are crazy.
Jason you said ” Suppose the premee is in the care of a “loving, caring, childless couple”. ” I guess you dont have children or dont know anyone who has had a baby this premature BUT this child would have needed immediate medical attention to survive and if there was some “loving, caring, childless couple” as you stated to take this baby if they were so loving they would have made sure it got the medical attention it needed and by now the public and law enforcement would be aware that a baby similar to the one in question was taken to a hospital somewhere near by.
First and foremost, this is exactly why the government doesn’t tell us things. Too many people go off on tangents and make their own conclusions with very little education as to the “whole picture”. It is not for you to judge the situation nor the girl, without really having all the facts. Why are the police involved, has there been a crime? No none as of yet, it is not a crime to have a baby in a public place. It is not a crime to leave placenta in a public place. What is wrong with you people? Do you not realize that the news tends to sensionialize, overdramatize to get people to do their job of investigating. I’m disappointed in Iowa… If the health of the baby needs attention, that is for the mom to decide. If she needs assistance, we as a society have made the decision for her. Why didn’t the hospital or an MD invite her to come and get checked out for free? Right now it’s more from fear that she or her baby may die because of the fear you all have caused especially the police. this is not a good way to deal with this. First she paniced because the baby was way early, second she paniced because she was in a public place, third she is being chastized by the public which creates panic,fourth she is fearful that the police are involved, fifth she is fearful that if the baby was dead when it was born she would be held accountable even if she was in a situation she didn’t have control of….think it through people… I pray she leaves the state for her own sake and the baby’s. What the scariest thing is, is the legal system we have, there are too many disperaties in the interprutation of written laws and if this or any other case goes to trial it’s people like you who claim they have an open mind and are able to pass judgement on others, when in reality we all have been skewed in judgemnt in one way or another. Get out of her business unless she asks for help!
She already has a kid & Title 19 would cover any expenses for being checked by a doctor. Change your depend & stop sticking up for an evil child murdering bitch.
That’s all fine and good what you say, however the baby is no where to be found. She needs to tell someone what she did with the baby!
Isn’t there a law about your child being missing & you not cooperating with law enforcement? Probably not, this is Iowa. That alone speaks VOLUMES as to what happened to her child. Why not cooperate if you didn’t do anything wrong?
GRANDMA i thank God for people like you that what you have said was well placed, i totally agree with you.
Wow way to give her all the excuses she needs to attempt to get out of this. Pretty sure it can be MEDICALLY PROVEN if the child took a breath when it was born thus stating it was a LIVE birth and would be murder. Personally once a child is growing in my womb it is a life and most of all a GIFT. Maybe if she were back in the Chicago this wouldn’t be that big of a deal likely happens all of the time. From what I can remember in North Iowa this isn’t something that we have seen before (last 15 years). It is proven with how she talked on her Facebook page that she was a wanna-be thug being able to look at her page showed a lot about who she is and her character. If she was at the workforce center for Promise Jobs then she knows what state assistance and Title 19 are that right there is FREE Medical Assistance. The hospital is also a safe haven and not only for that child after giving birth she should be looked at because of what may not have been expelled from her womb. Then to also tell her to leave the freaking state?!?! Are you kidding me WOW!!!!! Guess that’s probably why she was in Iowa was taught and told to run from her problems come to small town Iowa create more chaos and cost us as taxpayers more money to support her and the child she has and now to investigate her which could be MURDER oh yeah and if it is MURDER then we also get to pay for her to sit in prison the rest of her worthless life!!!
As sad as it may sound, she probably flushed it. people like this shouldn’t be allowed to have the gift of a child,
if she flushed the baby, don’t ya think she woulda flushed the other stuff, too?
I just can’t think of what I would do to have a baby on my own. I have two kids and my secant one was two mouth rely and was 5 ponds and was in the nici for three days. So this young girl and her baby need help.
Where is this girls mother? God knows if I EVER would have done anything like this my mother would have killed me putting her grandchild in danger!!!!
I lit a candle for the mother and the baby tonight. I hope for whatever the reasons this girl did this she is not chastised by our community. I was once young and in a situation where I needed friends and family to keep my mind sane as I was preparing to have my 2nd child. I don’t know what her story is, but I am sure there is one and we shouldn’t be so harsh and cruel. This girl needs love, she is scared and tormented by whatever happened this terrible day she gave birth in a bathroom at 19. Until the facts are there It easy to assume it is human nature, but it isn’t our right. We should be supportive until the truth comes out and then whatever the truth is at that time let us deal with it then. Please pray the baby is found.
I understand where you are coming from, but no matter how scared, there are always much better other options.
Thank you for those kind words.
This just makes me sick I just had the most beautiful baby boy “The official first baby of the new year for Cerro Gordo And Franklin CO.” and can not think what could have possessed this young woman to do this and so close to the hospital!!!! Why did she not just go across the street to the ER and get help maybe the baby would be alright they could have taken care of problems with the birth or if the baby was not breathing or just about anything the fact that she was so close to the hospital and still did this makes me so mad and just sick to my stomach!!!! I have to go give my little man a big hug and kiss now holding him will make me feel better I hope he always seems to!! I can not look at him without feeling good and warm inside how could anyone do this to a poor defenseless little baby!!
Is there any proof this woman was pregnant?
Is there any proof that a baby was born in the workforce center? Did someone just dispose of it there?
Has this placenta been tied to this woman?
Is there any proof a baby was born alive?
Most of the people here are willing to execute this woman without any facts. What a mob you all are.
they coneccted her to it with DNA! so there!
The fact that they were able to identify the DNA means she’s in the system, obviously been in trouble before.
No doubt they are waiting for it to appear out at the sewage disposal. What a terrible shame. A premie that young certainly can’t survive without being in a hospital. So it must have passed away.
Uncooperative? With a 3 month old premature baby missing? I’d beat her until she gave the correct answer. In times like these…enhanced interrogation techniques against uncooperative people are more than warranted. Throw the book at her when they find the dead baby’s body.
Everyone wants to point a finger at someone else! The 19 year old girl is the only one resposible for this.The MCPD have to follow protocol, Judging them for not doing there job is laughable! Maybe a few of you need to read a book or two on police protocol before being so judging. This is the saddest story, 19 year old girl gives birth to an infant in a bathroom all alone. She is faced with the humiliation of opening the door screaming for help or silently discarding her placenta? Where did the baby go? No one knows, I hope maybe someone went in there and helped this girl and has the baby safe somewhere. If not I pity this girl because she will be forever haunted by her decisions. But maybe if she had more support wheter it be fake or true she may come forward and tell the truth. I do not condone what she did and I believe there is no exscuse for her actions, but again I wasn’t in her shoes and her state of mind. Judging is done by God, we should let the cops handle it and hope for the baby.
I don’t understand why she isn’t being held??? All that does is give her a chance to run then no one will ever know what happened. And I don’t go for the crap that she could be traumatized or mentally ill. That’s NO excuse.
I can honestly say that this is the last time I will ever visit this website. The comments that I have read make me really think that our society is going to fail very quickly. It is time to be adults and stop blaming this on other people, the MCPD, the Governor, legalized abortion, the fact that she is from Chicago and everything else. We need to blame this on society. We have failed. This should NEVER happen. Each and every person who feels she is not wrong should be arrested along with her. No child deserves the fate that she handed to it. It is time we take responsibility for our actions, grow the hell up and stop making excuses.
Lisa- You are a dumbass. She should be beated until she talks. Idiot.
I can’t believe how judgemental people are. The woman that left her baby could be mentally ill and traumatised. Without knowing all the facts it is too easy to pass judgement. I hope the baby gets found.
Yes Lisa, she probably was traumitized and after it’s all over probably has second thoughts now. But she still should have called someone!!!
This is all Terry Branstad’s fault. It he had just shut down this workforce development center and replaced it with a kiosk at the library, there would have been literate people on site who could have helped that baby. Oh, and the folks from Cabin Coffee could have prayed for it and called Birthright.
Anonymous, what a stoooopid thing to say. It’s all everyone elses fault. No responsibilty to be taken by the mother? Baby was probably born dead or died shortly thereafter and she panic’d. She should have called someone for help. Everyone these days carries a cell phone so no excuse there. Lets not be blaming others but that’s the way it goes these days.
Are you kidding me? You shut down the community action centers that provide birth control and education and you are going to have a lot more babies being born that may not be wanted! You don’t know if this young woman even used their services. The article was completely vague…it never said if she said she had a baby. How do they know they gestation and weight of the baby if they haven’t found it? It is extremely difficult to get a DNA analysis done that quickly especially if she is uncooperative she more than likely didn’t supply her DNA for the comparison. Also they cannot hold her if they cannot prove that a crime was committed…they don’t have the baby so they cannot prove that she harmed it! Use your brains people. You can’t add your own thoughts and opinions as facts it doesn’t work that way.
Once again people don’t surprise me. People are just hateful and make awful comments. No matter what happened it is a sad situation for everyone and the poor little baby.If the woman did do something with her baby she has to live with it for the rest of her life.It is not for me to judge this situation.
Then avoid jury duty, okay?
I don’t know what the big deal is. Mothers kill their babies everyday in this country. It’s called abortion.
Yeah, but after 28 weeks the baby is considered viable and can live outside of the mother with special care. That’s the problem here 🙁
technically since the baby was born and it took its first breath then it is manslaughter. abortion is completely different considering that people dont wait 28 weeks to get it done. Thats 7 months.
Abortions are done in hospitals. Its different.
Seriously Whitney??? What a stupid comment!
I just tried to look her up on Facebook again and she is no longer there. Pretty sure she deleted herself after the messges she was getting on her page. Just tell someone where the baby is please!
Hold her welfare check for ransom, you know she was only there for her required promise jobs search then back to the ghetto she goes.
I’ve worked in establishments where girls would steal other girls purses. They would dump the contents in the tampon receptacle and then throw the purse on the roof as they left the building. Poor baby! I pray they find her safe. I guess we aren’t advertising enough for “Safe Haven.”
Anyone else think they should check the roof of the building for a purse?
I am certainly NO FAN of the MCPD, but to blame them for not having all the answers is just stupid.
Once again mcpd messes some thing up come on u know she done some thing with that poor baby arrest her and get the truth this little baby may still be alive and u r taking ur time get off ur butt and do some thing before It’s to late butt holes
hope they check dumbsters i think she put in garbage bag and lift it out side some where this makes me sick they should lock her up and make her talk
Ever hear of probable cause dumb dumb?
no excuse can make right what she did. The local hospital has an open door policy to drop off any infant no questions asked. If she wasnt ready for another child she should have been responsible enough to leave the child with the hospital to recieve much needed care,love, and eventually a home. Karma will come around eventually.
Iowa NEEDS the death penalty for people like this!! I for one will be holding my littles a bit tighter tonight and thanking God an extra time for the two we have been blessed with. Let this child be found to finally rest in peace and let the “mother” never be allowed to see the child she has now again becuase she doesnt deserve that joy and happiness!!
Amen to that
Ps PRAYING they find that baby! I too had one preemie and that little baby needs help!!!!
Can u post the link for her FB???
IF this baby is that premature, and laying somewhere outside or in a garbage, or even somewhere safe and not getting medical help. There is NO way it will survive. and THAT people is sad. My daughter was born at 32wks, just over 3lbs and had to stay in the NICU for a month, but we had a little time to prepare her to come early, my guess, this baby didnt. My prayers go out to that baby, that it is found safe and found SOON. No child deserves this. Keep your eyes and ears open people. Pray, even if you’re not a regular prayer, do it…. Sad, sad, sad.
This just makes me sick. PERIOD!
I’m asking these ?s on both pages. I am not a medical professional, or even close, so, if you ARE, can you tell me: 1)Is it possible that she had the baby PRIOR to going to WC? Ugh…I hate even writing this again…2)Would it be possible for her to have flushed an object that size? FOR ANYONE.–3)Where else can WE look?
If she flushed the baby, wouldn’t she have flushed the placenta & umbilical cord too? The police need to re-arrest her & ask her these questions while beating her head in with a bat. Beyond messed up b*tch!!!
Why don’t the police arrest her???? She’s obviously hiding something if she won’t cooperate. An amber alert should have been issued 1st thing!!! Hope they find the baby alive!!!! This makes me sick!! That poor little thing!!!
That tiny little baby was God’s child too. The fact that any of you are defending her is sick. Shame on you.
We are ALL God’s children. Even those whose opinions I do not agree, I will show respect. I will show support and respect for ALL people. I can only hope that someday you will do the same.
To all of whom that have bad reply first i don’t think she will do anything like this she’s probley a little afraid just give a some air i know nelly she’s not this kind of person people are saying she is just pray.she’s a good young lady and plus she is God’s child.
@Bob Watts
If she is a good young lady and a child of God, then she certainly wouldn’t have done what she has done. That baby that she delivered is/was also a child of God that hasn’t been given a fair chance at the life that it deserved. If you know her so well, then tell her to “put her big girl panties on” and tell the authorities where this innocent baby is!
This is more in response to So Sad’s line, “If she is a good young lady and a child of God, then she certainly wouldn’t have done what she has done.” I agree that the girl needs to talk–it would behoove her to do so–but I disagree with your “If, then” statement.
Her messing up does NOT mean that she isn’t God’s child. In fact, right now as much as ever, she needs to know she is a beloved child of God. And, you know, showing her love might include some tough love, but it definitely does not negate that she is God’s. Romans 8:38-39 “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Right. Such a good young lady you bet with warrents for alcohol and theft! And now this.
Doesnt make her above the law just because she a child of god
Just saying, she’s still God’s child, even if she has messed up. She’s not above the law…tough love means living with consequences (social, legal, and personal).
First I don’t understand how we have such careless, inhumane people in our society. Obviously Chanel is a very selfish person. No matter what kind of situation you are in there is always a better solution than this. Does she not realize that there are people out there that would do anything to have a child? I hope they punish her for what she has done and they better not let her keep the child she already has because I think this proves the type of mother she is!
to all of whin that have bad reply first i don’t she will do anything like this she’s probley a little afraid just give a some air i know nelly she’s not this kind of person people are saying she is just pray.she’s a good young lady and plus she is God’s child.
Yes, it seems she has a 2yr old daughter too.
This is thee saddest news I’ve ever heard of for the Mason City area. I honestly dont know the situation the mother was in, but it’s pretty bad when she wont cooperate with the police to find the poor, innocent, and helpless newborn! I really dont understand how any mother or even mother to be could ever do this?!! I agree that the police should have put out an amber alert asap and alerted the local people so that time was never wasted. The baby is probably dead, but i really hope he/ she is alive and safe without suffering. I doubt the baby is around the area of the crime… the mother probably either had a terrible reason not to go to the er or call an ambulance(drugs, rape, scared, or anything)or the baby was stillborn/ died at birth, etc. Maybe she panicked and went post partum crazy, or maybe she just didnt really care… because thats what it seems like. Even if she did do something terribly wrong… she still needs to cooperate with the police for that babys justice! Thats the least she could do anyways… People do make mistakes, but all they have to do is make them right! Tell us where the baby is Chanel!! We care deeply about this helpless baby of yours!! If the baby is dead, at least we could give him/ her the proper memorial it deserves! Please do the right thing because everyone nkows your reading all the news articles and comments people are making… you can do the right thing and tell us where the baby is!!
Kaite~
I hope this girl has a conscience and tells the authorities where this innocent infant is! You are right when you say that he/she deserves the proper burial if indeed the baby is not alive (which I am hoping is not the case). Chanel will have to deal with this the rest of her life! I hope that she finds it deep in her soul to do the right thing because it is obvious that she is NOT in the right frame of mind now!
Chanel Imdoingme Hanley
I just looked at her facebook. Basically ghetto trash originally from Chicago. Looking at her pics she really thinks she’s all that. Poor little baby never even had a chance.
AMEN
I looked her up on Facebook and it seems that she has another child! Lord help that poor child! I still cannot wrap my head around this!
THANK YOU, MATT! I have been consumed by this story and the complete lack of information provided to the public. My facebook page BLEW UP all night over this, as well. WHY would the MCPD not ask for help from the community IMMEDIATELY? I’m pretty sure ANY window of opportunity for saving that helpless, innocent, tiny being’s life has passed. There would have been SO MANY concerned citizens willing to assist in the search & hopeful rescue of that defenseless child. More than likely, we are now being asked to help locate a 3lb lifeless little body instead of a 3lb baby.
So two days after the fact they ask for the public’s help. They issue no Amber alert now or then?? Sounds like basically they know “Chanel Imdoingme Hanley” (as her face book says) killed the baby now they just need the body.
may god be with this little one’s soul and body at this time my prayers are with the baby
@Anonymous~
I saddens me to think that you can be this way regardless what you think of our law enforcement. An innocent baby is out there somewhere that needs medical treatment or is not even alive. How horrible of you! It makes me so sad to think that someone can do this to an innocent baby!
Why would I ever want to help an incoherent police dept??? Even if I did help you people wouldn’t know what to do. You’re about a bunch of idiots. You wouldn’t know what real crime was if it slapped you upside your heads. I don’t know anything about this or any other crimes in the area, I just wanted to let you know what I and most others around think of MCPD, Cerro Gordo County Sheriffs Office Nd Iowa state patrol. Have a nice day.
Pay no attention to her she is just mad her drug dealer “slick” got arrested last week.
Its not about what the.police department did or didn’t do its about trying to find this poor baby and to help it. Don’t be selfish and blame the police department ….HELP THE BABY!
Lindsay is.right. we don’t have the.time to be smashing the.cops.use our time to help the baby!
Dear Anonymous, nobody gives a spit what u think about the local law enforcement. Shut up.
So, I agree with Anonymous. Also, lets not get so upset over opinions. The MCPD were wrong on this one. A baby goes missing you send out an Amber Alert. You don’t leave the public in the dark about the whole thing. That’s just ridiculous. Because the police did not act right away that just wasted time and now the chances of them finding that baby have doped dramatically. It makes me sick to my stomach. The whole situation.