Hobbs woman accused of dumping newborn under house arrest until trial

HOBBS, NM (KCBD) - The 18-year-old woman accused of throwing her newborn baby in a dumpster behind a mall in Hobbs, New Mexico is due in court Wednesday afternoon. A crowd gathered at the entrance of the courthouse with signs, one saying “Babies are a gift from God, not garbage,” and “Justice for Baby.”

Alexis Avila was arraigned in a Lea County courtroom where she is facing charges of attempted murder. There was also a pre-detention hearing scheduled where a judge will decide if Avila will be held in custody while awaiting trial.

The judge decided Avila is under house arrest until her trial. Some conditions of her house arrest are that she cannot leave her house unless she is going to school, a job, receiving medical or psychological counseling, church if her family is also attending. She is not allowed to have or be on social media, she is not allowed to be around her child or any child under the age of 10. She is also not allowed to have any male visitors at her home. She is required to wear an ankle monitor.

The judge said, “If you go somewhere, I’ll be notified and you’ll go straight to jail.” He also told the courtroom the house arrest conditions will protect the community without her being in jail.

Investigators say Avila admits she threw her newborn son into a dumpster just hours after giving birth. She claims she didn’t know she was pregnant until the day before. The act was caught on a security camera, which helped police in finding Avila.

The infant was in the dumpster about six hours before being found by a woman and two men who were searching the dumpsters for “anything of value.”

The infant is in the care of the New Mexico Department of Children, Youth and Families.

KCBD NewsChannel 11 is in Lovington, NM for the hearing and will update this article.

Those wishing to make donations to benefit the newborn child may do so at the New Mexico Children Youth & Families Department’s (NMCYFD) office at 907 West Calle Sur, Hobbs, New Mexico 88240.

Monetary donations are not accepted, but donations of gift cards and new items such as toys, clothes, diapers, hygiene products, etc. will be received; donations of used items will not be accepted.

Additionally, donations of new items for children of all ages in the care of the NMCYFD are accepted every day, and these children are always in dire need of such items.

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