Memorial Service for Baby Precious Will Be Held Friday Morning

A memorial service will be held Friday morning for "Baby Precious" who was found dead May 28 at the North Portland Recycling Center. The service will be held at 11 a.m. at Maranatha Church, 4222 Northeast 12th Ave. After that the baby will be interred at Riverview Cemetery, 0300 Southwest Taylors Ferry Road.

Please bring donations of new baby items or diapers instead of flowers.

Recycling center workers found the baby at 8:30 a.m. May 28 at EFI Recycling, 4325 North Commerce Street. The newborn, an African American girl, weighed just over 5 lbs. The medical examiner said she was born alive and breathing, and was days or hours old when she died. The medical examiner has ruled that the baby's death was a homicide.

Women from Portland's African American community, including Antoinette Edwards and Marcy Jackson stepped forward to organize the memorial service. And while she can't be legally given a name, they nicknamed her "Baby Precious," as a sign that the community cares about her life and death.

How the infant got into the recycling is not known. Police are appealing to anyone with information to come forward.

Oregon Safe Haven Law says a parent who can't care for an infant can leave a baby, 30 days or younger, with a staff member at any:

·         Hospital

·         Doctor's Office

·         Birthing Clinic

·         Police Station

·         Sheriff Office

·         Fire Department

No questions will be asked. You must put the baby into the arms of a staff member. So long as the baby hasn't been abused, you can leave your baby in safety with no fear of prosecution.

Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward of up to $1,000 for information, reported to Crime Stoppers, that leads to an arrest in this case, or any unsolved felony, and you can remain anonymous.

Investigator:

Det. Kristina Coffey

Portland Police Bureau

(503) 823-0696

Kristina.Coffey@PortlandOregon.gov

Detective Erik Kammerer

(503) 823-0762

Erik.Kammerer@PortlandOregon.gov