PERRY — An Iowa mother faces a first-degree murder charge after police found her newborn dead inside a trash bag at a child care center in Perry.
Stephanie Ubaldo, 20, was arrested without incident Thursday, September 17, and taken to the Dallas County Jail. Police accuse her of killing her own child.
The arrest followed the discovery Tuesday, September 15, at Acorns & Oaks Child Care, located on the Perry Lutheran Home Eden Acres campus.
Dallas County Emergency Medical Services responded to the facility at approximately 4:56 p.m. for a report of a female experiencing vaginal bleeding, according to the Perry Police Department. Emergency personnel assessed the patient and transported her to a metro-area hospital at approximately 5:33 p.m.
At approximately 6:22 p.m., Perry police were notified that a premature infant might be in a trash container at the daycare. Officers responded and found the deceased infant inside a trash bag at approximately 6:32 p.m.
A death investigator assisted at the scene. Police said the infant’s body was transported to the Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner in Ankeny for an autopsy.
Police emphasized that the infant was not enrolled at the daycare and was not under the care of Acorns & Oaks Child Care. Investigators also said they did not believe there was a threat to the community.
Perry police and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation are investigating. The Dallas County Attorney’s Office will prosecute the charge.
Authorities also highlighted Iowa’s Safe Haven law, which provides a way for parents in crisis to surrender an infant at designated locations. NIT previously reported on two newborns safely surrendered under Iowa’s Safe Haven law in March 2024.
Northern Iowa has also seen parents turn to emergency responders for help. In a separate 2016 incident, a mother brought her 1-year-old son to the Mason City fire station and said she could no longer care for him. Police said the boy appeared healthy and well cared for, and authorities arranged temporary placement.
Ubaldo (pictured at top) is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
WTF is wrong with people? There are so many other options than this barbaric treatment of a helpless infant.
Do the same thing to her that she did to the baby.
If not, get her sterilized then.
Do you know the entire story? Do you know what premature means? Do you have any compassion in you? Yes, a child is dead and that is terrible. But you don’t know what was behind this so STFU.