Good Samaritan Saves Newborn Baby’s Life After Hearing Cries from a Dumpster in Nevada: ‘Truly a Hero’

Officials in Nevada are describing a community member as a “hero” after that person saved a baby boy from a dumpster.

According to a statement from the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO), the “concerned citizen” called 911 on Saturday, July 5, after “hearing the sound of a baby crying” in a nearby parking lot in Sun Valley.

“When the individual looked inside the dumpster, they located a newborn infant. Without hesitation, the citizen climbed in and safely retrieved the child,” the sheriff’s office wrote.

Deputies arrived at the scene at around 1 p.m. local time, and emergency medical personnel from the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District took the baby to a nearby hospital.

The sheriff’s office reported that the baby is healthy and doing well. “This child is alive today because of the swift and selfless actions of a community member who didn’t hesitate to help,” Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam said in a statement. “We’re incredibly grateful for their courage and quick thinking.”

“I also want to remind our community that there are safe and legal options for anyone in crisis, no baby should ever be left in danger,” Balaam added.

Following the incident, the sheriff’s office announced that investigators had arrested 28-year-old Taylour Dickinson on charges of attempted murder and child abuse, neglect or endangerment on Monday, July 7.

The Reno Gazette-Journal reported that a judge set a $1 million cash-only bail for Dickinson, a mother of two, following her first appearance in court.

Per the outlet, Washoe County Sheriff’s Detective Claire Hoops-Adams testified at the hearing that the baby was born between 2 and 3 a.m. on July 5. Security camera footage obtained by investigators allegedly showed a woman placing a garbage bag in the dumpster at 3:33 a.m.

Hoops-Adams also testified that Dickinson allegedly gave birth to the baby in a nearby bathroom and reacted with “panic and shock.”

“She had no knowledge of the gender, whether the child was breathing or moving,” the detective said, per the Gazette-Journal.

“According to her, the infant was wrapped completely in the towel and placed in the garbage bag,” Hoops-Adams said. “In her panic, she thought that was her best option.”

The detective alleged that Dickinson said she hoped someone would find the baby.

“She stated that she had no desire to have any more children, stating her family financially was living paycheck to paycheck at that point and they could not support an additional child,” Hoops-Adams testified, per the Gazette-Journal.

While testifying, Hoops-Adams also brought up another incident from 2023, in which Dickinson said she had a miscarriage and placed the fetus in a garbage can. She was never charged with a crime.

The incident is still under investigation, the sheriff’s office said in a statement.

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“We are grateful for the brave citizen who intervened — truly a hero whose actions saved this baby’s life – and for the work of our detectives in identifying and arresting those responsible for causing harm to this child,” Sheriff Balaam said. “While we cannot undo the trauma, we do pursue justice for our most vulnerable citizens. Thank you to our partners who have and will help ensure the best possible outcome for this little boy.”        

Nevada’s Safe Haven Law states that a parent may legally surrender an infant up to 30 days old with no questions asked at any hospital, fire station or law enforcement location.

WCSO Detective Cole Brokaw told KTVN that any parent who uses this program must leave their child with someone who clearly works for the emergency service, or somewhere on the property that they reasonably believe that the child will not be injured, and they have to let someone know that they are leaving the child there.

Parents who use the Safe Haven Law also cannot be followed, can leave at any time and don’t have to share any personal information.

Between 2000 and 2019, the Safe Haven law was used 11 times, Brokaw said.

“If that child is surrendered unharmed, uninjured, no signs of abuse or neglect, then there are no criminal charges or repercussions for that parent,” the detective added.