New details emerge in Las Cruces infant death

The recent death of a newborn baby in Las Cruces has raised a lot of questions.

The boy tested positive for methamphetamine at birth. A preliminary autopsy report shows the 10-day old baby did not suffer from trauma, but Dona Ana County Sheriff’s deputies are waiting for a toxicology report.

Meanwhile, a lot of unanswered questions remain, why was the baby allowed to go home?

The Dona Ana County Sheriff’s office tells Abc-7 the Children, Youth and Families Department made the call in this case.

Deputies say a 31-year old woman and her 10-day old infant were staying at a friend’s house in Las Cruces. Deputies say the mother’s friend checked in on the baby at 3:30 Monday morning, fed him and put him back in bed with the mother. The baby was found unresponsive later that morning, taken to Mountain View Regional Medical Center, where he died.

The sheriff’s office tells Abc-7, when a baby is born with drugs in his or her system, the hospital notifies CYFD. They assess interactions between the family and make the decision on whether the baby can go home with parents.

Law enforcement agencies are only notified if and when CYFD alerts them.

In this case, deputies tell Abc-7 no criminal investigation was conducted at the time of birth. Instead CYFD chose an “in-home” care plan.

“We’re dealing with a very distraught mother. She is visibly distraught over this incident. She’s been completely cooperative during this investigation. It was the opinion of CYFD upon the baby’s birth that the best course of action for this case was for these two to remain together and bond,” Kelly Jameson, Dona Ana County Sheriff’s Office Spokeswoman said.

Jameson tells Abc-7, there is no law in New Mexico that protects a child prior to birth.

Deputies say the mother tested negative for drugs and alcohol.