A mother from Lino Lakes, Minnesota, is accused of killing her son by drowning him in a bathtub and then disposing of his body in a hotel dumpster. She is now being charged with murder.
Esperanza Rae Harding, 20, is facing charges of second-degree murder and killing in Hennepin County in connection with the death of her child.
Minnesota Mom Faces Charges for Intentionally Drowning Her Baby
A statement made by Harding said her child had passed away at the hospital on March 1 due to natural causes. An unexpected finding was made, still when the medical examiner found that the hospital records did not contain any details about the child, and the medical examiner did not have any records of the victim's existence.
In the days following the police action, Harding offered a confession that was highly disturbing. After initially saying that her child had passed away at the hospital, she later admitted that this was not what had happened.
In exchange for that, she admitted to the horrific act of drowning her son in the bathtub of a hotel in Bloomington, and then hiding his lifeless body in a backpack before disposing of it in a callous way in a dumpster located nearby, as detailed in a criminal complaint.
According to documents, Harding attributed her actions to pressures from her romantic partner, 18-year-old Edwin Trudeau, who harbored animosity towards her child. Trudeau allegedly pressed Harding to relinquish custody of her child to prove her devotion to him, compelling her into a grim choice, according to KSTP-TV.
Boyfriend Helped Disposing Girlfriend's Dead Child
Harding described her pain as she tried to have a bath as her child screamed in the next room, recounting the awful occurrences of February 28. With the child's fate closed off she admitted to giving in to a fit of wrath and forcing him into the bathtub as her frustration grew.
Documented discussions between Harding and Trudeau throughout the case further highlighted the extent of her horrific action. Retrieved text messages from Harding's phone show menacing warnings and self-deprecating feedback, indicating a disturbed mind trying to process the seriousness of her actions.
Following the child's demise, Trudeau purportedly arrived at the scene, futilely attempting to resuscitate the child before engaging in sexual intercourse with Harding while the child's lifeless form lay nearby. The couple then purportedly conspired to dispose of the body, with Trudeau allegedly urging Harding to maintain silence to evade repercussions.
In consideration of the allegations that he was involved in the cover-up, Trudeau is now facing charges of murder and aiding and abetting an offender. He is also accused of being involved in the terrible event. As a result of the seriousness of their suspected crimes, both Harding and Trudeau have been placed under arrest at the Hennepin County Jail. Harding's bond has been set at $1,500,000, while Trudeau's bond is set at $500,000, reflecting the severity of their respective offenses, The Kansas Star City reported.
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