FULTON COUNTY, Pa. — Two parents are facing criminal homicide charges after an infant was found dead on the street in Fulton County earlier this year, State Police said Tuesday.
Joshua Wooters, 19, and Emily Dickinson, 19, both of McConnellsburg, were charged Tuesday with criminal homicide, conspiracy, concealing the death of an infant and abuse of a corpse, according to court records.
Wooters is also facing an additional charge of obstructing a law enforcement investigation, court records show.
According to an affidavit of probable cause, troopers responded to the roadway on North 2nd Street near the intersection of Lincoln Way, McConnellsburg Borough, Fulton County on March 11 after receiving a phone call that an infant was found dead.
At the scene, troopers found the deceased infant, as well as a plastic trash bag that contained a blood-stained mattress cover and other disposable items.
On two separate occasions during the beginning of the investigation, Wooters told police that he had no information regarding the infant, the affidavit stated.
After troopers were granted a search warrant of the apartment, they discovered blood evidence inside the bedroom and bathroom, including on the mattress and the bathroom window sill. Troopers additionally noted that the apartment had multiple windows which overlooked the location of where the infant was found.
While being interviewed by police, Wooters allegedly stated that he was dating Dickinson, but had not seen her the day of the incident since he was busy "running and stuff." The affidavit goes on to say that Wooters eventually confessed to lying about Dickinson's location since he didn't know that PSP already knew she was in McConnellsburg at the time.
Wooters went on to allegedly admit that he was only told that Dickinson was pregnant one month before the incident and that he felt he was "too immature" for a child and "not ready for that yet."
Davidson, who was a Certified Nurse Assistant in Maryland, told investigators that she felt like she couldn't afford to go to the doctor for the baby, and believed she was too far along in her pregnancy by the time she found out to get an abortion.
Police stated that Dickinson wanted to give the baby up for adoption, but did not attempt to contact agencies about adoptions.
According to the affidavit, Davidson was scared because she didn't think she would be able to take care of a child, and had woken Wooters up to tell him she was in labor. Wooters was in the bathroom doorway with Davidson until she gave birth.
Davidson reported to police that the infant passed away shortly after she gave birth and cut the umbilical cord with a knife. Dickinson then checked the baby's pulse and noticed that it was not moving or screaming, and told police that she believed she was hallucinating that the baby was moving and screaming due to severe blood loss.
Wooters told police that Davidson picked the baby up after giving birth as if someone would pick up "dog poop." Davidson then reportedly walked by Wooters and threw the infant out of the second-story window.
The affidavit stated that Wooters noticed Davidson still had the towel, but not the baby. After asking Davidson what she had done, Wooters reportedly cleaned up the area due to wanting to sleep, and put the items in a trash bag before throwing it out the window.
Both are being held in Bedford County Prison after bail was denied, court records say.
The infant was pronounced dead at the scene by the Fulton County Coroner's Office.
A preliminary observation at the scene determined the baby had been born less than 24 hours before its body was found and its estimated gestational age was between 36 and 37 weeks, authorities said at the time.
