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KEARNS — The woman accused of dumping her newborn in a trash can will be allowed to have one “goodbye” visit with the child, a judge ruled Monday.
Alicia Englert, 23, allegedly left the baby in a neighbor’s trash can just days after giving birth in the bathroom of her home on Aug. 24. Englert was arrested Aug. 26, and the child was taken into the custody of the Department of Family and Child Services.
The visit between Englert and the child will take place Dec. 15 under the supervision of the DCFS at its offices, according to a court document. The request was signed Monday by 3rd District Judge Elizabeth Hruby-Mills. It states the entire visit will be limited to 90 minutes, and attendees will not be allowed to discuss the pending criminal case.
“If at any time the supervisors from DCFS feel the need to terminate the visit in the child's best interest, the meeting shall be terminated,” the document reads.
Englert is charged with attempted murder, a first-degree felony. She was released from jail after posting a reduced bail Oct. 20. Questions about her mental competency have surrounded the case, her parents arguing early on their daughter was frightened and didn't understand what she was doing, while prosecutors say she has acknowledged she knew abandoning the baby was wrong.
Englert was also ordered to have no contact with children.
Police believe Englert gave birth to the baby she said she didn't know she was carrying. She didn't feed the baby or care for the baby before she left it naked in the trash, according to court documents.
The baby, identified only as A.H.E. in court documents, was released from Primary Children's Hospital in September and placed in state custody.
Goodbye meetings are not uncommon when it comes to the termination of parental rights, according to DCFS spokeswoman Liz Sollis. She said a caseworker will likely attend the meeting, in addition to various other staff members.
Englert's attorney did not immediately return calls for comment Monday.
Contributing: Cleon Wall
