Baby murdered with hair dryer

[proud2BlibKansan]

Brigit Hippen told authorities that she put her unclothed baby in a bassinet and left a blow-dryer next to the 3-month-old girl to warm her up in the bathroom at her apartment on February 22, 2010. She put a blanket over the bassinet and went back to her bedroom, where she fell asleep, the Hutchinson News reported. The infant, Karina Perez, died from the heat of the hair dryer.

Hippen, 19, is now charged with second-degree murder -- while authorities acknowledge that Perez's death was unintentional, they believe "Hippen acted recklessly with extreme indifference to the value of human life." On Tuesday, Hippen was bound over for trial.

The baby was left in the bathroom around 11:30 p.m. Around 3 a.m. February 23, Hippen and her boyfriend, Oscar Perez, rushed their daughter to a Hutchinson hospital, where Perez was pronounced dead.

Dr. William Unsderfer reportedly testified that he "saw no reason for malicious activity surrounding the child's death." The Hutch News reported that Unsderfer examined Perez at the hospital -- and he noted that "Hippen was crying, distraught and stating she had killed her baby and she was a terrible person."

The details of Unsderfer's examination are just gut-wrenching:

more . . . http://blogs.pitch.com/plog/2011/02/brigit_hippen_infant_hair_dryer.php#more

[alphafemale]

1. oh gawd

:cry:

How awful.

[Dorian Gray]

24. Reading that story

made me sick to my stomach. The whole thing is awful. The baby must have suffered horribly. The mother must be horrified by her stupidity. And she will have to live with this horror for the rest of her life.

[alphafemale]

26. But she shouldn't go to prison for it.

It was a stupid mistake. Stupid to the nth degree. But she already lost her baby because of it. That's punishment enough.

[closeupready]

44. I agree with all your points.

n/t

[Dorian Gray]

103. I didn't think she should go to prison...

I just said the whole story horrified me, and this woman has to live with her stupidity for the rest of the life. As the story read, it didn't seem as though she had any intent.

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[originalpckelly]

3. With young parents like that you need some kind of help to come in.

Anyone who's seen Sicko knows that there is state help in France, where they will send someone to your house to help out in the first months the baby is alive. That's what needs to be done here in this nation.

[proud2BlibKansan]

4. Amen

This is such a sad story. Sounds like the mom is really distraught.

[Rage for Order]

5. Those people are usually known as "parents"

Women who have children pass along their knowledge to women who are having children. Its been this way for millenia

[enlightenment]

16. Not everyone has access to 'parents' -

nor should it be assumed that all 'parents' make the best role-models.

[bettyellen]

19. and to hell with everyone who doesn;t have them at the ready, right?

[Rage for Order]

51. You said that, not me

Those who don't have parents likely have a sister, aunt, or friend who has experience rearing children. I'm sure there are some rare individuals who have no friends or family they can turn to for advice or help, but that number is minuscule and can be served by local community organizations.

[bettyellen]

61. you assume 19 year old has a sister or pal who'd be much help? or local community organization

who could or would have helped? those are huge and ignorant assumptions.

[Rage for Order]

63. You seem to be making your own "huge and ignorant assumptions"

You're assuming the couple didn't know anyone - family, friends, or community organizations - who could give them advice. I don't believe it's an ignorant assumption to think that either the mother or father (he is still in the picture) has any female relatives or friends who have experience rearing children. What about local churches and community groups? People don't live in a vacuum, and I don't think I'm going out on a limb in thinking that they could have gotten help from a number of sources if they asked for it.

[bettyellen]

69. no, i am pointing out your assumption that there was help readily available is a big leap

You seemed clueless to the fact that family can be non-exisitant or stretched way too thin themselves to help. her parents, like many of the working poor, could be working two jobs,
and suggesting teenage siblings or friends helping her? how would they know what they are doing any better? her county has very limited social services for infants, really only covering abuse and early education. not much helpful there to this situation, is it? we cannot assume she had access to many sources at all. in NYC there are many programs that exisit, getting into them however, is a whole other ball game. it just ain;t as simple as you;d like it to be. the safety nets are largely non existant or failing many,

[FedUpWithIt All]

13. Agreed. The early months with a first child can be very overwhelming

And this woman is very young. First time parenting is fraught with extreme exhaustion, conflicting advice, major life adjustments, individual anomalies and a very steep learning curve. Humans, throughout history, benefited from a lot of inter-generational support when raising children. Our society is very different than many in this aspect. Adding to this is a distinct lessening of medical advice or support immediately postpartum.

My heart goes out to these young parents.

[Dorian Gray]

25. I'm a first time parent

in my late 30s (to a 3 month old), and it's super confusing now! Everything you say is right. I can only imagine how difficult it is for a teen mom.

[rurallib]

37. our daughter just had her first about 6 mo. ago

and it has been a struggle. She is just now getting her bearings.

[sasha031]

6. how horrible, it's obvious they didn't have heat

the poor baby....what a country:(

[Brickbat]

7. Sad all around.

[XanaDUer]

8. This happened in KS

did they not have heat? I don't see anything in the story about that.

[REACTIVATED IN CT]

9. The article states that the apt. had heating problems

That could mean there was no heat or limited heat.

What a tragedy.

[XanaDUer]

10. Sad

the parents, of course, used bad judgement, but the totality of problems poverty brings might make things like this more common. :(

[LisaL]

18. It must have had electrictity since she was able to use the hair dryer.

In which case she could have used an electric heater if the gas heat went out.

[fishwax]

36. electric heaters can also cause babies to overheat

So that might have helped in this case and might not have.

[JVS]

39. Electric heaters also cost money. Some people on this thread seem to think that people improvise...

heat sources for infants as some kind of hobby. It's like how those damned winos like to piss and sleep under the bridge. :eyes:

[fishwax]

40. indeed

:kick:

[LisaL]

52. Electric heaters cost money? So do hair dryers.

Give me a freaking break.

[JVS]

53. Obviously the person in the OP had a hair dryer on hand. And you'll get a break when you give a few

Maybe if the mother had a cup of hot coffee she could have dumped that on the baby to keep her warm.

[LisaL]

54. She also had working utilities in the apartment, according to the

property manager.
"A property manager for the apartment complex Hippen and Perez lived in testified there were no records of complaints about heating in the couple's apartment, and all utilities were working when they moved in in December 2009 and moved out in April 2010."
http://hutchnews.com/Todaystop/Hippen-headed-for-trial--2#

[JVS]

56. Do you live in an apartment?

[LisaL]

67. I've lived in a number of apartments over the years. However I fail to see WTF

does that have to do with anything.

[bettyellen]

71. landlords will downplay complaints if they can get away with it,

[LisaL]

78. If your apartment had no heat, would you take your kid's clothes off,

leaving the kid in just the diaper?

[bettyellen]

79. i'm not willing to judge or guess at what mistakes Id make as 19 yo Mom

[LisaL]

95. 19 years old is an adult.

[bettyellen]

102. do you have a point?

[proud2BlibKansan]

83. Hair dryers are much less expensive than space heaters

[LisaL]

96. You can buy a small heater for less than 20 $.

[Raschel]

22. If there was no heat or limited heat, the last place for warmth is a bathroom.

I call b.s. on 'keeping the baby warm' story.
Why weren't there clothes on the baby if it was so cold?
Why didn't she put the baby in bed between herself and her "boyfriend".

I believe she didn't want to be bothered with the baby and turned the hair dryer on to cover the crying. All of her attention was on the boyfriend.

Two people in the house and can't check on a baby?

[fishwax]

41. why? Our bathroom is rather warm (perhaps b/c it's the only room without an exterior window)

[SaveAmerica]

62. Our bathrooms are the warmest rooms in our house, 1 small space plus 1 heat vent

means it stays really warm, I have to constantly remind people to not close the door so we can use that warmth in the colder parts of the house.

[malaise]

28. My first assumption

An awful tragedy :cry:

[Maine-ah]

11. babies having babies

19 years old. I know some here don't think 19 is young, and yes, she's considered an adult...but remember when you were 19. I graduated HS when I was 19. I couldn't imagine a baby at that age.

Poor baby :cry:

[JVS]

12. This is why you don't cut heat assistance to the poor.

[Starry Messenger]

14. +1000

[XanaDUer]

17. Thank you

nt.

[fishwax]

23. .

:applause:

[prolesunited]

27. Where did you see that in the article?

[tekisui]

34. It is an example of the type of things people resort to when they

don't have access to adequate heat. This was a 19 year old mother. Most likely poor, as she was living in an apartment without adequate heating.

[fascisthunter]

38. it didn't need to be

this is what many poor folk who are desperate do for heat! And now she is being accused of murder by whoever chose that title.

[tekisui]

31. This is my response, as well.

Sad that a poor mother trying to keep her baby warm will be charged with murder.

[closeupready]

45. There we go. It's not the way anyone would choose to make the point. Sadly,

it actually happened, and if assistance is cut, it will likely happen more. :(

[Starbucks Anarchist]

57. No, this is why idiots shouldn't reproduce.

[Warren DeMontague]

87. Yeah.

That's what I get from this story, too.

[backscatter712]

15. That is completely fucked up!

How can people like that tie their own shoelaces without adult supervision?

[beyurslf]

20. Ya know, it seems like a really crazy way to keep your baby warm, but

I don't think I would have imagined that could kill a baby. Seems the charge is a bit extreme.

[LisaL]

21. Seriously? You think you can stick a hairdryer next to a naked child

and not think it will hurt the baby?

[beyurslf]

29. A hair dryer next to a bassinet with a baby in it and a blanket over it?

Yes, I am not sure I would think that would get so hot. Was it is the blanket over the bassinet that made the bassinet heat up and the heat couldn't then escape?

[KansasVoter]

33. Hind site is always right. Lighten up!

[LisaL]

55. WTF are you talking about?

Hindsight? Do you think warming the baby is a proper use for the hair dryer?

[AngryOldDem]

46. Read the warning tag that is attached to the cord.

It specifically says that caution should be used with children and the infirm.

Have you ever had a hair dryer burn your scalp? To a baby, a hair dryer going full speed would be like a blast furnace.

[mzteris]

30. "Murdered"??

Stupid? yes.

Negligent homicide? Maybe.

but MURDERED?

I don't see intent here.

[rocktivity]

47. I agree--I hope there's a lesser included charge of manlaughter

which would reflect negligence or recklessness without intent.

:(
rocktivity

[KansasVoter]

32. This was an accident. Not 2nd degree murder. Prosecutors are out of control to me......

Nearly every auto accident now they try to charge the person with some type of murder.

We have more people in prison per capita than any country in the world!! Including China.

They also charge 12-13 year olds as adults.

I am starting to hate the criminal justice system in this country.

[Swede]

35. Horrible story.

NT

[rocktivity]

42. I smell a coverup -- her story doesn't wash

If the apartment, and the baby, were too cold, why leave the baby unclothed? At the very least, why not wrap her in a blanket instead of putting it over the bassinet? Better yet, why not take the baby to bed with them? Has the father been charged? Is the mother covering for him?

x(
rocktivity

[closeupready]

48. I don't buy that. She allegedly told police she "killed" her baby.

that's not a reaction we would read about, IMO, if this was a cover-up.

[rocktivity]

50. But we don't know what happened between THEM between 11:30 and 3AM, do we?

According to this story, "Perez said he had fallen asleep, and Hippen took the baby from their bed and placed it in a bassinet."

How about, "Perez COULDN'T asleep because the baby was crying, so HE put her in the bathroom with the dryer in hopes that she'd finally shut up -- or he ordered Hippen to do it"?

:headbang:
rocktivity

[lumberjack_jeff]

60. I guess her confession isn't enough for you. Must be a man to blame, somewhere. n/t

[rocktivity]

66. Given the circumstances, no, it's not.

Besides, why can't a young man be as bad as being a parent as a young woman?

:headbang:
rocktivity

[Horse with no Name]

43. How horrible

This young mother didn't have enough sense...I will give you that.
But she was trying to keep her baby warm.
I don't see any grounds for malicious prosecution here.

[aikoaiko]

49. I am suspicious -- babies usually cry when burned.

[JI7]

73. maybe they couldn't hear over the noise of the hair dryer

[aikoaiko]

104. maybe, but I would be able to hear my baby cry over a hair dryer.

[WinkyDink]

58. "Murdered" is a completely inaccurate and misleading term.

[Akoto]

59. This is horrible, but she didn't "murder" her baby.

What she did was ignorant and did result in the baby's death, but "murder" implies that there was malicious intent. Everything in the article suggests that she had no such designs. Hell, she outright said that she had killed her baby when they went to the hospital.

Frankly, I don't think prosecution should continue, or at least on such serious charges. The emotional turmoil is more of a punishment than anything the courts can do.

[thelordofhell]

64. Was there an oven in the apartment?

They could have turned on the oven, left it open, and put the baby in the warm kitchen. Ovens are electric, so it would probably have used the same amount of electricity as a blow dryer. This story is not passing the sniff test on many levels.

[LisaL]

68. That apartment had working utilities, according to the property

manager.

[JI7]

70. the mother's lawyer said they had heating problems

[LisaL]

74. And yet the mother took the kid's clothes off and the kid had just the diaper on.

Does that make sense to you?

[JI7]

81. yeah, that is strange, why remove the clothes if you are trying to keep the baby warm

did she give an explanation for this ? maybe she thought the baby couldn't sleep or was uncomfortable with too much on. of course that is strange also as kids are often bundled up in warm clothing and blankets.

[Ghost in the Machine]

91. "Working utilities" really doesn't mean much...

It's quite possible that their heater "worked" just fine, but maybe it was gas heat and they couldn't afford the gas bill?

[JVS]

92. My heater works, but when the temperature outside is less than 10 degrees it can't keep up.

So the temperature in the apartment falls from 68 into the low 60s inside.

[XanaDUer]

72. That's what we used to do in our old NYC apt when the super

forgot to turn on the heat.

[bettyellen]

84. i had read that this is incredibly dangerous, but I did it anyway too.

[XanaDUer]

85. Yeah, it was an old gas stove, too

we were freezing.

[bettyellen]

86. me too! glad we're both okay!

[Warren DeMontague]

88. People shouldn't have to resort to using the oven for heat, either. nt

[Desertrose]

65. "Murdered" seems a bit over the top.

Very very sad...I can't imagine how horrible those parents feel.

Just no common sense.

[11 Bravo]

75. This was NOT a murder. Murder requires intent. Has anyone seriously claimed ...

that this woman meant to kill her child?

[LisaL]

77. You are not correct that second degree murder requires intent.

[11 Bravo]

80. You are correct. I looked it up and murder two is a "non-premeditated killing ...

which results from an assault which could resonably be assumed to cause death." But even according to that definition, I still do not believe that this was a murder.

[Incitatus]

98. Yes, at best this is a case of involuntary manslaughter. nt

[jtuck004]

76. It would only have taken seconds to hold your hand in front of the dryer

to see what kind of heat was hitting the child. "..of third-degree and second-degree burns all over the baby's body, with a "concentration on the left side." indicates the dryer was relatively close.

Heating the bathroom would involved pointing at the ceiling, or perhaps the floor. But she put it close and pointed it directly at the little girl. Then covered the whole thing in a blanket to make sure the heat would stay. Like a roast. Note the body temp after a couple of hours in the hospital.

Sounds like she was anything but caring for the welfare of the child, whether she was using a $2 hair dryer from Goodwill or not.

Another tragedy.

[cate94]

82. This baby wasn't murdered.

How horrible for the baby. How horrible for the mother. How ridiculous to charge this mother with murder. Her punishment is the grief and self torture that will be with her for the rest of her life.

[BlueJazz]

89. I agree. I couldn't send this Mother to prison although I would...

...mandate that she get help. ...probably from the state.

[cate94]

93. Yes, I think she will need lots of help.

19 - The rest of her life will be hell, no matter what the authorities do to her.

[Warren DeMontague]

90. The mom is also 19. I wonder if she's a product of "abstinence only" education.

Some people are not ready to be parents.

[Beacool]

94. What killed this baby is ignorance.

A 19 year old having a baby before she was mature enough to handle the responsibility. A sad turn of events all around.

:-(

[ZombieHorde]

99. I was just about to say something similar. nt

[shanti]

97. this is horrific

but i smell bs - something is just not right.

[taught_me_patience]

100. I've used a hair dryer many times to get our baby to sleep

They seem to like the loud noise.

This doesn't seem like murder.

[rocktivity]

105. But have you ever left it unattended

or laid it right next to him or her with the heat on?

I agree that it's not murder, but it's definitely criminal negligence -- I hope the prosecution hasn't overreached. I think one or both parents did it because the baby was making too much noise to sleep.

:shrug:
rocktivity

[Terra Alta]

101. This is not murder.

This poor girl should NOT be charged with murder; this is something that she is going to have to live with for the rest of her life. Isn't that punishment enough?