RENO, NV – A Nevada woman is facing serious charges after authorities say she left her newborn son inside a dumpster just minutes after giving birth. The infant, wrapped in a towel and sealed inside a garbage bag, was discovered by a passerby who heard the baby’s cries in the early morning hours on July 5.
Taylour Sierra Dickinson, 28, has been arrested and is being held on charges of attempted murder and first-degree child abuse, neglect, or endangerment, according to court records. Detectives allege that Dickinson abandoned the newborn at an apartment complex, leaving the child in a dumpster less than an hour after delivering him in her bathroom.
Emergency responders rushed to the scene after a resident of the apartment complex called 911. Paramedics transported the infant to a local hospital, and officials report that the baby is in good condition and recovering well.
Investigators say surveillance footage from the apartment complex shows Dickinson placing the garbage bag in the dumpster at around 3:30 a.m. that morning. Detective Claire Hoops-Adams testified that Dickinson told police she was unaware of her pregnancy until going into labor overnight. She reportedly gave birth alone, then decided, in a panic, to wrap the newborn in a towel and place him inside a garbage bag.
According to police, Dickinson later explained that she was struggling financially and did not feel she could provide for another child. She told investigators that she hoped someone would find and rescue the baby. Dickinson is the mother of two other children, ages four and ten.
During a court hearing last week, prosecutors brought up a similar incident involving Dickinson two years earlier. Authorities allege that Dickinson placed a miscarried fetus in a dumpster at a different location in 2023. At that time, no charges were filed due to the circumstances and available evidence, but officials say the child did not survive.
Washoe County Sheriff’s officials expressed gratitude toward the bystander who found the baby and alerted authorities, crediting their quick thinking with saving the child’s life. Sheriff’s deputies have described the case as deeply troubling for both law enforcement and the community.
The Washoe County District Attorney’s Office is handling the prosecution. Due to the sensitivity of the case and minors involved, authorities initially withheld further details until Dickinson’s bond hearing.
Court records show Dickinson is being held in the Washoe County Jail on a $1 million cash-only bond. She is scheduled to appear in court again on July 23.
Officials emphasize that Nevada’s “Safe Haven” law allows parents to legally leave a baby at designated locations, such as hospitals and fire stations, without fear of prosecution—provided the child is unharmed and younger than one month. Local authorities are urging anyone in crisis to seek help rather than abandon a child.
The newborn remains in protective custody, and child welfare authorities are evaluating the next steps for his care.