25-Year-Old Mother Charged In Death Of Infant Who Was Found Drowned In Duffel Bag
A Virginia mother is being charged with the murder of a young infant who was tragically found drowned and shoved in a duffel bag.
According to WSET, 25-year-old Vanessa Danielle Poteat has been charged with first-degree murder after her newborn was killed last year. In June of 2016, police arrived at Poteat’s home on Schoolfield Drive in Virginia after the infant was found by her ex-boyfriend.
When Vanessa’s ex opened a duffel bag, he told authorities that it appeared that the infant had been dead for “some time.” People reports that the arrest warrant reveals that five things were taken from the home following the incident, including a black towel, the child’s clothing, a duffel bag, plastic, and a handwritten note.
Poteat had originally called her ex-boyfriend and told him that he needed to come to her mother’s house to retrieve some of his belongings, including a duffel bag. However, when the man opened the bag, he could not believe that it contained a deceased infant.
The publication goes on to say that it is unclear why it took over a year for Poteat to be charged with the crime, as police initially found the deceased child over a year ago.
The mother is currently being held at the Danville City Jail with no bond. It has yet to be revealed whether or not Poteat has hired a lawyer and whether or she will enter a plea of guilty or not guilty.
JUST IN: Officials say Vanessa Danielle Poteat, 25, drowned her baby to death. https://t.co/Rd9fP70WuH
— WDBJ7 (@WDBJ7) October 24, 2017
According the the Danville City website, Poteat is a resident of Ringgold, Virginia. The article goes on to say that the Danville Police Department treats every single investigation as a homicide until they find facts or evidence that suggests otherwise. The police made it clear that the investigation is still ongoing and are unable to release any additional information at this time.
When Virgina’s local ABC station shared the tragic story on their Facebook page, people were absolutely outraged as they questioned how a mother could do something so horrific to her child, let alone an infant. A few people also suggested that Poteat face the ultimate punishment, the death penalty.
“What on earth is wrong with these people abusing and killing babies and children??” one person asked.
Do you think Poteat should receive the death penalty?
[Featured Image by Danville Police Department]
