Grandmother Allegedly Drowned Hours-Old Newborn To ‘Prevent Family Shame’

Stock photo of a baby's feet. Vitamin/Pixabay

A Californian grandmother allegedly killed her grandson shortly after he was born in order to “prevent family shame,” according to reports.

Beant Kaur Dhillon, 43, discovered her 15-year-old daughter had given birth in the bathroom of their family home on Nov. 12, 2018, located in Southwest Bakersfield. After being handed the newborn, Dhillon allegedly drowned the baby to “prevent family shame,” she reportedly told police.

According to court documents, Dhillon and her nephew, Bakhshinderpal Singh Mann, 23, then dug a hole in the backyard of their home, which was used to hide the baby’s body, reported ABC 25.

Investigators have apparently unearthed the baby’s body, WKRN reported.

Months after the incident, Dhillon allegedly neglected to seek medical treatment for her daughter.

The teen’s father, Jagsir Singh, was also arrested in connection to the infant’s death, court documents say. Singh, 47, was asked to return home after the newborn’s death. Police said Singh allegedly allowed the newborn to be buried in the yard in order to hide the pregnancy and birth of the child. In addition, police say he also made no attempt to inform them of the birth or death and did not seek medical treatment for his daughter.

The incident came to light after the daughter, now 16 years old, reported it to a “third party” who contacted authorities.

Dhillon was arrested on Feb. 26 and charged with felony first-degree murder, felony assault of a child with force likely to cause great bodily injury, resulting in death, and felony child abuse, reported ABC. Meanwhile, Singh was arrested and charged with felony accessory to murder and felony child abuse. He was released after he posted bail on Feb. 27.

As for Mann, he is wanted by Bakersfield Police Department for his involvement in the alleged murder. The department said Mann is wanted for conspiracy and acting as an accessory to a felony after the fact. He has also been charged with felony accessory to murder, reported ABC 25, citing the Kern County District Attorney’s Office.

Following the arrests, the police department posted a reminder to the community about the Safe Surrender Baby Law to their social media account.

“Due to our community’s recent tragedy, we want to remind everyone of the Safe Surrender Baby Law. This law allows distressed birth parent(s) to legally, confidentially and safely surrender their baby within 3 days of birth to any fire station or emergency room within our county,” they wrote.

According to the county, the law was designed to stop distressed parents from abandoning their newborn child, usually at dumpsters or public toilets.

“Abandoning a baby puts the child in extreme danger. It is also illegal. Too often, it results in the baby’s death,” according to the county website.

Social Media Reacts

In reaction to the news, some people on social media used the opportunity to highlight how Senate Democrats recently blocked a Republican bill that would have penalized doctors who don’t try saving the life of infants born alive during failed abortions.

The proposed Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act would require “any health care practitioner” present at the time of birth to “exercise the same degree of professional skill, care, and diligence to preserve the life and health of the child as a reasonably diligent and conscientious health care practitioner would render to any other child born alive.”

It was voted down 53 - 44 on Feb. 25.

“Here is the complete list of the 44 Democrat Senators Who Voted in Favor of Infanticide and against protecting Born-Alive Babies,” one person commented on Facebook, attaching a list of the senators.

“And yet Congress is completely OK with it!!” another said.

President Donald Trump called the failure to pass the legislation as “one of the most shocking votes in the history of Congress.”

“Senate Democrats just voted against legislation to prevent the killing of newborn infant children. The Democrat position on abortion is now so extreme that they don’t mind executing babies AFTER birth .... This will be remembered as one of the most shocking votes in the history of Congress. If there is one thing we should all agree on, it’s protecting the lives of innocent babies,” he wrote on Feb. 25.

Dhillon’s next court hearing is scheduled for March 13.