DEAD BABY BURIED IN YARD; TEEN MOTHER IN CUSTODY AFTER POLICE UNCOVER GRAVE

JACKSON, Mo. -- A Jackson teen suspected of burying her stillborn baby girl in a shallow, backyard grave remained in juvenile authorities' custody Thursday as Cape Girardeau County investigators delved into the troubling incident.

Police discovered the newborn Wednesday evening. The mother, a 14-year-old student at R.O. Hawkins Junior High School, later surrendered to police at her Cape Girardeau attorney's office.

County Coroner Michael Hurst said the baby "never took a breath" but was full-term. He is awaiting a complete autopsy report from a Farmington medical examiner.

County Prosecutor Morley Swingle said he isn't planning to file charges against the teen, who is instead moving through the juvenile court system. She could be guilty of improperly disposing of a corpse by burying the baby without notifying a law enforcement authority.

To an adult, this Class D felony would be punishable by a maximum sentence of five years. Under the juvenile system, the maximum punishment an offender faces is remaining in custody until age 18.

"If the juvenile judge decides the person can be charged as an adult, we can do that," said Swingle. "But it never happens to first-time offenders who commit non-violent crimes."

The names of children under 17 accused of crimes are kept confidential by authorities.

Jackson police officer Rodney Barnes said investigators went to the home in response to a phone tip called in to a state child welfare agency.

The shallow grave dug into the sod behind the Birdie Street residence sat in stark contrast to the barbecue grills and jungle gyms that dot the tidy, middle-class neighborhood.

A neighbor, who said she was troubled by such an incident in her peaceful community, said the girl lives at the residence with her mother. The neighbor asked not to be identified, but said investigators used her phone to call for a search warrant around 5 p.m. Wednesday after finding a spot of freshly turned dirt in the teen's back yard. They uncovered the corpse after the warrant arrived.

Dennis Parham, principal of Hawkins Junior High, said the girl's teachers were not aware that she was pregnant. Parham said the girl had good grades and good attendance.

No-one answered the phone or door at the girl's home Thursday.