A woman caught by police after disposing of a dead newborn had an even more horrific secret she was hiding.
Alyssa Anne Dayvault was admitted to a South Carolina hospital in December 2018. There, she delivered a placenta and an umbilical cord. It was clear that they were of a full-term pregnancy, but no baby was delivered.
After some discussion, Alyssa admitted to having given birth to a baby boy earlier that month. She hid her pregnancy from her family and friends.
Alyssa said the baby boy was born alive and breathing. But she did nothing to preserve or care for that life. When the infant died, she threw him out in her home garbage can.
Alyssa was arrested on charges of homicide by child abuse. As police investigated, they learned something even more chilling. Medical records indicated Alyssa had been pregnant the year before. It couldn't have been the same pregnancy, however, because these records indicated a baby girl. That's how they determined there were two newborn babies who had died.
Alyssa's story began a few years ago. In December 2018, Alyssa went to a South Carolina hospital and delivered a placenta and umbilical cord. Doctors determined they were indicative of a full-term pregnancy.
But Alyssa didn't deliver a baby at the hospital during that time. After some questioning, she admitted to having given birth to a baby boy earlier in the month. The baby boy was alive and breathing after the at-home birth. She didn't seek medical attention at the time of his birth.
Alyssa didn't do anything to keep that baby alive. She claims she blacked out for at least 15 minutes after giving birth and when she came to, the baby boy was dead. She then disposed of him in her home trash can.
After hearing her story, police searched Alyssa's home and found the child's remains in the trash. The body was studied by a pathologist who says his findings are inconsistent with Alyssa's story.
The pathologist testified in court that the baby boy appeared to expel meconium, fecal matter babies have when they are born, inside the trash bag. For the baby to do so would indicate that he was alive when the bag was closed.
"That child was alive in the trash can," prosecutor Scott Hixson said in closing arguments.
In their investigation, police received Alyssa's medical records from the previous year. The records indicated that in 2017, Alyssa was examined during her third trimester of a pregnancy with a baby girl. In a taped interview, she claimed that the baby died after she gave birth to it because the umbilical cord was wrapped around her neck.
Police questioned Alyssa further. She admitted that the baby girl had also been born alive and breathing, but she didn't seek medical attention. When the baby girl died, Alyssa disposed of her in her apartment complex's dumpster.
Alyssa did not appear for her trial, triggering a nationwide search. Public defender Sharde Crawford still defended the 32-year-old, who he simply said got in over her head. He noted that not getting prenatal and postpartum care is probably not a good idea but is not in and of itself against the law.
"She panicked," he said. "She was scared. Here was this child she hadn't told her family about because she was going to give it up for adoption."
Alyssa had hidden both pregnancies from everyone in her life. Her partner, who had been the father of both children, was devastated to learn the news.
"Hopefully with this, it will be a little easier for me and my family to get through this. It is by far and away the hardest thing we've ever had to deal with. Justice coming to her makes it a little easier to comprehend," Chris Matechen told the judge.
"We welcomed Alyssa into our lives with open arms. We're a very trusting family," said John Matechen, Chris' father.
"People often say how in the heck did you guys not know that she was pregnant? She was really, really good."
Chris is also unhappy that he's been separated from Alyssa's two older children. He'd been a part of their life for some time, but no longer had access to them because they're in the custody of Alyssa's family.
"I wish there was a way for us to erase the memory of your mother," he wrote. "You girls deserve better than what she's putting you thru. Putting us thru. Sad part is, you won't even realize what she's done until you're old enough to recognize evil. You shouldn't have to be exposed to that."
"Your mom should be ashamed at herself for what she's doing. She's desperate tho. There was a point in life where you girls meant everything to her. She changed tho," he wrote.
"Somewhere along the line she changed into something you girls and myself never witnessed when we were all together. I don't know why she didn't want us to have two more family members. Maybe it was out of fear? Breaking apart the perfect family in her eyes? Maybe she was afraid we couldn't afford it? Maybe it was your grandmother? Or maybe she was just a sick person.
"Maybe mentally she wasn't all there from the start. We just didn't want to see it. Haylen and Kyla, I love you girls. Always will."
The jury deliberated for just two hours before handing down the verdict. Alyssa was convicted of two counts of homicide by child abuse. She turned herself in about 24 hours after her conviction and will be sentenced in late 2020.
