On Christmas night, 2022, a young woman allegedly abandoned her newborn baby to die of exposure in the New Hampshire forest. The mother’s motives are now being revealed for the first time.
The trial of Alexandra Eckersley, the 27-year-old daughter of 1980s baseball star and Hall-of-Famer Dennis Eckersley, commenced on July 25th. In her opening statements, defense attorney Jordan Strand said that the baby was born inside a tent where Eckersley was living with her boyfriend, George Theberge, in the New Hampshire woods. The birth was difficult; Eckersley was bleeding heavily, and Theberge—who assisted with the delivery—said he could not find a pulse.
Prosecutors charge that Eckersley abandoned the child in the forest and then lied to police about the baby’s location.
Alexandra Eckersley now stands charged with second-degree assault, reckless conduct, endangering the welfare of a child, and falsifying physical evidence. She pleaded not guilty to all charges. The defense is arguing that Eckersley did not know she was pregnant at the time of the birth and was of diminished mental capacity due to bipolar disorder (diagnosed in childhood) and various substance abuse problems.
Additionally, Strand argued, Eckersley had been living with Theberge in a tent in the forest for several years and had no cell service or other means to call for help. Left with no other option, the couple walked towards an ice-skating arena. During the walk, the afterbirth came, which Eckersley mistook for a second childbirth.
Upon reaching a phone, Eckersley called 911 and reported the delivery of two children who died. However, when the police arrived, Eckersley allegedly caused a 73-minute delay by lying about where the baby was born.
Police eventually found the baby lying near the couple’s tent, still alive, and struggling to breathe. After being rushed to the hospital, the child was stabilized. Eckersley, now living with her family, has completed rehab and been reunited with her son.
