Pocono News Section

Mom Pleads Guilty For Baby Left in Cold

Mom Pleads Guilty For Baby Left in Cold - Wednesday, August 19, 2009 at 6:05PM EST

Reported by: Kyla Campbell
Wednesday, Aug 19, 2009 @ 06:05pm EST

BLOOMSBURG, COLUMBIA COUNTY -- The mother who put her newborn baby outside in the bitter cold pleads guilty to child endangerment charges. Jennifer Killian spoke publicly for the first time Wednesday.

Killian gave birth inside her parents' home in Berwick in November 2008. She tells Eyewitness News she wanted to hand over the baby girl to the Berwick Hospital immediately after she gave birth. But when her step-father heard the baby's cries outside the house, he called 9-1-1. Killian didn't admit the baby was hers, and she regrets how the situation played out.

Nine months after the incident, Killian says people still misunderstand her decision.

"It was never my intent for anything to happen to her," Killian said through tears. "You know, it happened so fast, and I just wanted to get her to the hospital."

Now 24 years old, Killian says she put the baby outside because she didn't want her parents to see her with a newborn. They didn't even know she was pregnant. Killian was going to tell them she was going for a ride, then get the baby out of the side yard, and legally surrender the baby at the Berwick Hospital, under what's called the "Safe Haven Law."

"That way, someone with more money and you know more possibilities for her so she can go to college and just be loved," Killian trailed off. "And not have to worry."

Brianne Young of Bloomsburg gave birth one month ago today. Her mouth dropped as she heard Killian's story inside the courthouse.

"I believe she knew what she was doing," said Young. "She's a grown woman. She knows right from wrong."

But Killian says she was distraught and panicked.

"I had stuff ready to wrap her up and take her," explained Killian. "It just didn't go that way."

The baby, Brianna, is now with a foster family in the area.

"She's with a wonderful family," said Killian. "I've met them, they're wonderful people. They love her to death. I know she is where she's meant to be."

Killian's parents have custody of her other daughter, who is two years old. She plans on signing over custody of Brianna to the foster family.

Killian faces up to seven years behind bars. Her sentencing date hasn't been set.