Alexandra Eckersley, the adopted daughter of MLB Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley, testified in her child abandonment trial on Wednesday, revealing the traumatic events surrounding the birth of her son on Christmas night in 2022.
Why it matters: The case has drawn significant attention due to Eckersley’s celebrity father and the disturbing circumstances of the alleged child abandonment in freezing temperatures.
The details:
- Eckersley, who was homeless and living in a tent with her boyfriend at the time, claimed she was unaware of her pregnancy and believed the baby had died after giving birth.
- She described severe stomach pains, heavy bleeding, and a lack of cell phone service that led her and her boyfriend to leave the baby in the tent as they sought help.
- Prosecutors argued that Eckersley intentionally misled first responders and knew the baby was alive, as evidenced by her admission that she heard the baby cry.
During her testimony, Eckersley shared details of her challenging past, including a history of mental health issues and substance abuse disorder that went untreated for years.
What they’re saying:
- “Allie did not commit a crime. She did not behave recklessly or purposely. She did not act with extreme indifference to the value of human life. She is innocent.” – Defense Attorney Jordan Strand
- “Nearly an hour after she gave birth, she told [the officers] a new fact: The baby was crying when she gave birth.” – Assistant County Attorney Alexander Gatzoulis
The other side: Eckersley’s defense team argued that she was facing a medical emergency and did not break any laws, emphasizing the couple’s initial belief that the baby had no chance of survival.
What’s next: The trial, which began on Wednesday, is expected to last five days. Eckersley has pleaded not guilty to charges of assault, reckless conduct, falsifying evidence, and endangering the welfare of a child.
Full story
Alexandra Eckersley, the daughter of Hall of Fame pitcher Dennis Eckersley, testified in her child abandonment trial on Wednesday. She said she did not know she was pregnant when she gave birth in the woods on a cold Christmas night in 2022. Eckersley was homeless at the time and living in a tent in Manchester, New Hampshire.
Eckersley, 27, said she started having severe stomach pains earlier that day. “It felt like a knife stabbing into my stomach,” she testified. She did not realize she was in labor and thought the baby had died after birth.
A forensic psychologist testified that Eckersley has mental health and developmental issues that were diagnosed in childhood. She also struggles with substance abuse disorder. Eckersley was not receiving treatment for these conditions when she gave birth.
After the baby was born, Eckersley asked the man she was with to check the infant’s pulse. He said there was no pulse. They started walking towards an ice arena, leaving the baby in the tent, because Eckersley was bleeding and they had no cell phone service.
Eckersley testifies on child abandonment
Prosecutors argued that Eckersley intentionally misled first responders about the baby’s location because she did not want to get in trouble. They said she initially did not tell them the baby had cried after being born.
Eckersley eventually led police to the tent. They found the baby alive but suffering from hypothermia and respiratory distress. Temperatures had dropped to 15 degrees Fahrenheit that night.
The man Eckersley was with pleaded guilty to child endangerment and was sentenced to a year in jail. Eckersley has been living with her son and family in Massachusetts since earlier this year. She has pleaded not guilty to charges of assault, reckless conduct, falsifying evidence, and endangering the welfare of a child.
Her attorney argued that Eckersley had no idea what was happening and thought the baby had died. The Eckersley family said in a statement after her arrest that they were shocked. They had no prior knowledge of the pregnancy.
The family said Alexandra has suffered from severe mental illness her entire life and they tried their best to get her help and support.
- Go.”Daughter of Hall of Fame pitcher Dennis Eckersley says she thought baby died after she gave birth”.
- UnionLeader.”Alexandra Eckersley takes the stand in child abandonment trial”.
- NYPost.”MLB Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley’s daughter, Alexandra, facing trial over child abandonment case”.