Newborn Abandoned in Dumpster: Alexis Avila Case Analysis

[00:00:00]- [Narrator] On January 7, 2022, at nearly 8:00 p.m., three dumpster divers outside of a JC Penney's in New Mexico, made a startling discovery.

[00:00:08]Here you see the divers huddled around a black trash bag.

[00:00:12]What you can't hear is the whining that was coming from the bag.

[00:00:16]The dumpster divers, April Meadow, Hector Jusso and Michael Green believed the pitiful noise had to be a whining cat or dog, something that may have climbed into the dumpster accidentally.

[00:00:26]Instead, they're horrified by the truth of what they found, a living, breathing baby boy wrapped in a trash bag was left in that dumpster to die.

[00:00:35]With its umbilical cord intact, this child had no chance of survival after being abandoned.

[00:00:42]Upon finding the child, April Meadow is seen rushing off camera with the child in her grasp, wiping it off with the towel it was wrapped in.

[00:00:49]The crew called law enforcement shortly after this, all the while wondering who could do something like this.

[00:00:55]- [Dispatcher] Hello, 911.

[00:00:57]- [Michael] Yes, we found a baby in the trash.

[00:01:01]We've just found an infant child - [Dispatcher] Is it breathing?

[00:01:03]- [Michael] in the goddamned trash.

[00:01:04]Yes, ma'am.

[00:01:05]- [Dispatcher] Hello?

[00:01:06]- [April] Hello, yes, ma'am.

[00:01:07]- [Dispatcher] Can you tell me about the baby?

[00:01:08]- [April] He's still got his umbilical cord, and he's freezing cold, and he's very like, he's gray.

[00:01:13]He's very, very, very weak.

[00:01:14]- [Narrator] The police were on the scene quickly.

[00:01:24]The same surveillance footage from roughly six hours earlier than when the baby was found, shows a white four door Volkswagen Jetta pulling into a nearly empty parking lot, and stopping in front of a line of three large green dumpsters.

[00:01:37]A woman exits the driver's side door, and opens the back passenger door.

[00:01:41]She then grabs a black bag from the back, and casually throws it into the open dumpster on the far right, before hastily getting back into the vehicle and driving away.

[00:01:50]The entire incident only takes 30 seconds, but the damage has been done, it's too late to take it back.

[00:01:57]The alleged driver of that car, Alexis Avila, 18, is seen here, waiting for questioning.

[00:02:03]Brought in only a little while after the baby was recovered from the dumpster.

[00:02:07]Alexis is seated against the wall, giving her the feeling that she is trapped, and has nowhere to go.

[00:02:12]The following interrogation has been analyzed by a qualified team, including a licensed attorney and former criminal prosecutor, a licensed clinical psychologist, a psychologist trainee, and an individual with a master of science in clinical psychology.

[00:02:25]- [Detective] Hello.

[00:02:27]- Can I have some toilet paper for my nose?

[00:02:36]Sorry.

[00:02:37]- [Detective] Yes, of course.

[00:02:40]Yes.

[00:02:41]Give me just a minute.

[00:02:46]- Thank you, sorry.

[00:02:49]- Oh, no worries.

[00:02:52]All right, so my name's Danny Perez, okay.

[00:02:58]I'm Danny Perez, I'm an investigator here at the Hobbs Police Department.

[00:03:08]All right, what is your name?

[00:03:11]- Alexis.

[00:03:12]- Alexis, what is your full name?

[00:03:14]- Alexis Nicole Avila.

[00:03:15]- Okay.

[00:03:16]So before I do ask you any questions, okay, for policy and procedure, I read everybody their rights.

[00:03:23]It doesn't mean anything, other than me making you aware of your rights and you understanding your rights.

[00:03:28]- Yes.

[00:03:29]- Does that make any sense?

[00:03:31]- Mm-hmm.

[00:03:32]- Okay.

[00:03:33]Do you need any medical attention though?

[00:03:34]Before we start?

[00:03:35]No, are you okay?

[00:03:37]- Yeah.

[00:03:38]- So third bulletin, So I'm gonna read you each bulletin, if you have any questions, feel free to stop me at any point, okay.

[00:03:42]So of course you have the right to remain silent.

[00:03:45]You do not have to say anything at all.

[00:03:46]Anything you do say can be used against you in a court of law.

[00:03:49]Do you understand that part?

[00:03:51]All right.

[00:03:52]- [Narrator] As soon as she sits down, the detective reads Alexis, the Miranda Rights.

[00:03:57]In doing so, he is assured that later on Alexis can't say she didn't understand her rights.

[00:04:03]The detective is also extremely careful in downplaying the Miranda Rights because this usually means that the suspect is less likely to request a lawyer, especially if they're young.

[00:04:13]- And what else do I do?

[00:04:14]- If you wish to talk to me or not, you can just initial yes or no.

[00:04:15]- Okay.

[00:04:16]We'll get this out of the way.

[00:04:20]- [Narrator] Alexis seems polite and cooperative.

[00:04:26]Her tone of voice is soft-spoken.

[00:04:28]The fact that she moves the paper towel on the table when the investigator spoke and she maintains eye contact are all indications of respect for authority and a willingness to cooperate.

[00:04:38]- Right, so I know there's a lot to talk about.

[00:04:42]And I just want to ask you, you know, why you think you're here?

[00:04:50]What led us to us being here, right?

[00:04:53]Obviously, I do know information.

[00:04:56]And the last thing I want to do is, you know, to start up on the wrong foot and for you to start lying.

[00:05:03]There's always two sides to a story.

[00:05:04]Obviously I'm looking at a evidence standpoint and what we were called out to.

[00:05:10]I don't know what you're going through, if you're going through anything.

[00:05:12]We're all humans.

[00:05:13]You know, before me being a detective, I'm a father, you know.

[00:05:17]I'm, you know a son and stuff like that, we're all human.

[00:05:22]It doesn't matter what rank we have or how old we are, all right?

[00:05:28]And that's why, you know, I asked you to come out here and give me your side of the story, okay?

[00:05:34]I'm not here to judge you.

[00:05:35]I'm not here to question you.

[00:05:36]I'm not here to accuse you.

[00:05:37]I'm not here to, you know, belittle you.

[00:05:38]That's not what I do, that's not my job.

[00:05:39]So my job is to investigate.

[00:05:40]And that's exactly what I'm doing.

[00:05:41]All right?

[00:05:42]So if you can, I would kindly ask you just to tell me the truth and we'll go from there, okay?

[00:05:50]- [Narrator] The detective is playing nice here by claiming that he's just doing his job, that he understands there are multiple sides to every story and all he wants is to hear out hers.

[00:05:59]With a suspect who is timid and young, like this one, this is the approach most officers will use, as being aggressive and confrontational will likely make her shut down and less likely to talk to him.

[00:06:11]More than anything else, the detective wants her to feel safe.

[00:06:14]He's trying to lull her into a false sense of security.

[00:06:17]The hope is that she will confess to the alleged crime, as a confession is one of the most important pieces of evidence law enforcement can get.

[00:06:25]It's extremely difficult to challenge a confession in court, as more often than not, it's all that's needed to convict a suspect.

[00:06:31]- Do you wanna tell me what's going on or what happened today?

[00:06:35]Or what led to this?

[00:06:36]- I mean, I can tell you, but I need you to ask because then I can tell you, because- - [Detective] Right.

[00:06:45]Okay.

[00:06:46]- [Narrator] Notice that Alexis says that the only way she can tell him what happened is if he asks her questions about it, which most likely indicates that she has a rehearsed story, ready to go.

[00:06:55]She's using the questions as a guide to keep her story straight.

[00:06:59]Further, detectives often ask open-ended questions to elicit narratives.

[00:07:03]While providing narrative responses, suspects are more likely to share contextual detail and less likely to lie without being detected.

[00:07:10]This contrasts with close-ended questions that would produce shorter responses, such as yes or know.

[00:07:17]Her cooperation with questioning seems genuine, not forced or feigned.

[00:07:21]In interrogations where the suspect seems to have Antisocial Personality Disorder or APD, they are sometimes compliant, but it often seems almost unnatural, like they're doing it for their own good because they're in an interrogation.

[00:07:35]So it's in their best interest to be cooperative.

[00:07:37]However, as the interrogation gets more stressful, people with APD often start to show their defiance towards authority.

[00:07:44]They often become irritable or angry.

[00:07:46]But Alexis's cooperative attitude doesn't appear to be faked just for the sake of the interrogation circumstance.

[00:07:53]It's important to note that Alexis has not been formally diagnosed with any psychological disorder.

[00:07:59]- [Detective] So, obviously I got confirmation that you were pregnant, okay.

[00:08:05]- Right.

[00:08:06]- Right.

[00:08:07]- I found that out yesterday.

[00:08:08]- [Detective] You found that out yesterday?

[00:08:10]- Yesterday.

[00:08:11]- [Detective] Okay.

[00:08:12]- [Narrator] Alexis states that she found out she was pregnant yesterday.

[00:08:15]This is a detail the interviewer didn't ask for.

[00:08:18]When a suspect offers up additional information without being asked, the information given is most likely false.

[00:08:25]Alexis most likely rehearsed this answer and wants to make sure it's on the record before they move on.

[00:08:30]- [Detective] So tell me a little bit more about that.

[00:08:32]- What do you mean?

[00:08:34]- [Detective] So how is that you found not, or how- - Well I've been having back pain, like really bad.

[00:08:39]And I got an accident September of 2021.

[00:08:40]- [Detective] Okay.

[00:08:41]- 2022, two years ago.

[00:08:42]And I just thought that's what it was.

[00:08:43]And I mean, the pain comes and goes and so I didn't really think anything much of it.

[00:08:54]And it just kept hurting and so my mom took me to the ER and they just said that I had some kind of sprain.

[00:09:08]And I don't even know what kind it was.

[00:09:13]And they just gave me medicine for it and it wasn't helping.

[00:09:18]- [Detective] Okay.

[00:09:19]- But, I still didn't think anything much of it.

[00:09:20]I gave them a urine sample to see for infection or anything.

[00:09:21]And there was nothing, I guess.

[00:09:23]I don't know.

[00:09:24]And then I just kept hurting and so I went to the clinic and they did a urine sample and they told me I was pregnant.

[00:09:33]And that's when I found out.

[00:09:34]- [Detective] You said it was yesterday?

[00:09:36]- Yesterday.

[00:09:37]- [Detective] And where did you go to?

[00:09:39]What clinic, what hospital?

[00:09:44]- The one in Dal Paso.

[00:09:45]- [Detective] Dal Paso?

[00:09:46]Okay, which one?

[00:09:47]Lea?

[00:09:48]- Yeah, that one.

[00:09:49]The one under construction.

[00:09:50]- [Detective] All right, who took you?

[00:09:51]- Myself, my parents were at work.

[00:09:52]- [Detective] Your parents were at work?

[00:09:53]- Yeah.

[00:09:54]- [Detective] Okay.

[00:09:55]'Cause I believe your mom said that she had accompanied you, or she took you or she went with you?

[00:09:57]- No, she didn't.

[00:09:58]- [Detective] Okay.

[00:09:59]- I went by myself.

[00:10:00]- [Narrator] Alexis sticks with the story that she found out she was pregnant yesterday.

[00:10:05]She goes so far as to say that she took a urine test at the ER, but nothing came back.

[00:10:10]This is either false, since a urine test would show a woman is pregnant or she was in the ER early in her first trimester.

[00:10:17]Since she said she was in the ER recently, both seem unlikely.

[00:10:21]The back pain was likely contractions, but it's highly unlikely that she just found out she was pregnant because pregnancy has countless symptoms that would've shown themselves long before actually having to deliver the child.

[00:10:32]- [Detective] So as I mentioned to you, before anything, I like to speak, you know, with the truth, obviously okay.

[00:10:39]I spoke to some people and I know that back in March, when you spoke to some people and you told 'em that you were pregnant.

[00:10:53]So you had prior knowledge, all right.

[00:10:55]So I'm not gonna- - Back in March?

[00:10:57]- [Detective] Right.

[00:10:58]You know somebody by the name of Walker?

[00:11:03]Do you know anybody?

[00:11:05]A friend of yours, a school friend of yours, that I spoke with and she's the one that told me that you knew that you were pregnant.

[00:11:08]- Walker, I don't know?

[00:11:09]- [Detective] And that you did not want the child.

[00:11:10]- Walker?

[00:11:11]- [Detective] Mm-hmm.

[00:11:12]Her mom is a nurse at the hospital.

[00:11:13]- Walker?

[00:11:14]I don't know a Walker.

[00:11:15]- [Detective] She's a friend of yours.

[00:11:16]You don't know anybody by that name?

[00:11:17]- No.

[00:11:18]- [Detective] No?

[00:11:19]- Not a Walker.

[00:11:20]- [Detective] Okay.

[00:11:21]Well, that's her mom's last name, but I spoke with her and she's the one that told me, obviously, that you knew or had prior knowledge.

[00:11:31]- Walker.

[00:11:32]- [Detective] Right.

[00:11:33]Like I said, you gotta be straightforward.

[00:11:34]- Okay well, I don't know.

[00:11:35]I swear I don't know a Walker.

[00:11:36]- [Detective] Okay.

[00:11:37]- [Narrator] When she is confronted with having told someone named Walker about her pregnancy back in March, she has very little reaction.

[00:11:48]Notice what Alexis does here.

[00:11:50]She doesn't deny knowing she was pregnant.

[00:11:52]Instead she focuses on the information presented to her by the interviewer that someone named Walker told him about the pregnancy.

[00:11:59]She's hyperfixating on this specific phrase and actively avoiding the question.

[00:12:03]There's a chance Alexis doesn't know anyone named Walker, but that doesn't matter.

[00:12:08]The detective could be outright lying about the name or even lying about this information as a whole.

[00:12:13]But the important part of this is that Alexis does not deny knowing about the pregnancy.

[00:12:18]Whatever the case, Alexis is not forthcoming with the detective.

[00:12:22]She displays high levels of resistance, e.g. lying and evasion.

[00:12:26]Law enforcement typically analyzes suspect's levels of resistance from the onset, as the detective does with Alexis here.

[00:12:33]- [Detective] So anyway, explain to me, as far as what happened today, how did your day start today?

[00:12:40]- The same as any other day.

[00:12:41]Well, for the past couple of days, - [Detective] Okay.

[00:12:45]- I was in pain.

[00:12:46]I just thought I was, what is it called?

[00:12:50]I can't think straight.

[00:12:53]I'm sorry.

[00:12:54]- [Detective] It's okay, I know there's a lot.

[00:12:57]I understand, there's a lot going on.

[00:12:59]- Where you can't poop.

[00:13:01]- [Detective] Okay.

[00:13:03]Constipation?

[00:13:04]- Yeah, yeah.

[00:13:05]I just thought that's what it was.

[00:13:08]- [Narrator] The detective is still being very gentle and friendly with Alexis and is trying to have her start creating a timeline for him of the day of the incident.

[00:13:17]He empathizes with her when she can't recall something, to try and build that rapport.

[00:13:21]The detective has transitioned into the behavioral analysis interviewing stage of the Reid technique.

[00:13:26]During this stage, he will ask Alexis fact-based, non-confrontational questions and monitor her behavioral responses.

[00:13:34]He will compare Alexis's non-verbal responses to these questions, to her non-verbal responses to more crime relevant questions later in the interrogation, to inform a determination on whether she was answering, honestly.

[00:13:45]- [Detective] Oka, so you- - Literally all day I would go to sleep and then go back to the restroom, go to sleep and go back to the restroom.

[00:13:53]Just the same thing.

[00:13:54]- [Detective] Okay, so what time did your day start?

[00:13:57]- I couldn't tell you, to be honest.

[00:14:02]- [Detective] Okay.

[00:14:03]- [Narrator] Alexis continues to stick with her story, at times to disastrous results.

[00:14:08]She fumbles over answers as she tries to only repeat her rehearsed lines.

[00:14:13]She even throws in a "to be honest" at the end of some of her statements.

[00:14:17]People will use a qualifier like this in hopes it will make the statement appear more truthful.

[00:14:21]When someone is telling the truth, they don't generally feel a need to outwardly state they are being honest, after saying something.

[00:14:27]- [Detective] So you don't know what time you woke up or do you?

[00:14:29]Are you working?

[00:14:30]Do you go to school?

[00:14:31]- I go to school, but I didn't go.

[00:14:33]I haven't been to school this week and I didn't have work today.

[00:14:36]- [Detective] Where are you working at?

[00:14:38]- Martin Boot.

[00:14:39]- [Detective] Okay.

[00:14:40]So you haven't been going to school this whole week?

[00:14:42]- No.

[00:14:43]- [Detective] No?

[00:14:44]Because you've been sick or?

[00:14:45]- Yeah.

[00:14:46]- [Detective] Okay.

[00:14:47]So you don't know what time you woke up?

[00:14:48]Obviously a lot happened, okay.

[00:14:49]So I just wanted timeframe as far as- - I wouldn't be able to tell you.

[00:14:52]- Okay, you don't know what time you wake up, but you woke up?

[00:14:55]- Yeah, right.

[00:14:56]- [Detective] At your parents' house where you live?

[00:14:57]- Yes.

[00:14:58]- [Detective] What's your address?

[00:15:01]- Okay.

[00:15:02]You woke up there, you live with your parents?

[00:15:04]- Right.

[00:15:05]- [Detective] Okay.

[00:15:06]What did you do when you woke up?

[00:15:07]- I went to the restroom and I was in pain.

[00:15:10]I was up all night going.

[00:15:11]I was asleep and I'd go to the restroom and, Just all hours of the night.

[00:15:16]All day today.

[00:15:17]- [Detective] Okay.

[00:15:18]So what happened after you started going to the restroom?

[00:15:24]- I just went back to sleep 'cause I couldn't go.

[00:15:27]- [Detective] Mm-hmm.

[00:15:28]- [Narrator] Alexis says she's missed the last week of school.

[00:15:30]We know from a statement of a friend of hers that she also missed the week leading up to holiday break.

[00:15:34]Meaning she hasn't been to school in roughly a month.

[00:15:37]This could imply she may have known she was pregnant, but didn't have a due date.

[00:15:41]So she spent a month at home.

[00:15:43]- [Detective] And then after that, what did you do?

[00:15:45]- What do you mean?

[00:15:46]- [Detective] Yeah, I mean, obviously it- - It was repetitive and then my dad went to the store and went and got me some pills.

[00:15:53]I don't even know what they were, but they were supposed to help me poop.

[00:15:56]And I took it and I went back to sleep and I stayed asleep for, I don't even know how long.

[00:16:06]- [Detective] Okay.

[00:16:07]- And then I woke up and I kept just trying to use restroom and I'd go back to sleep and it's repetitive, sir.

[00:16:17]- [Detective] Mm-hmm?

[00:16:19]What happened after that?

[00:16:21]- What do you mean?

[00:16:23]- [Narrator] Alexis keeps asking the detective to explain himself, despite the fact that the questions are simple.

[00:16:28]As if she's taking time to think, so she can stick to her story.

[00:16:32]Alternatively, she could be getting to the point where she doesn't want to talk about what allegedly happened, possibly because she doesn't have a lie made up to protect her and is trying to delay having to discuss it.

[00:16:43]Suspects who answer honestly, are more likely to provide verifiable details, i.e. details surrounding time and place.

[00:16:50]Note that Alexis cannot, or is reluctant to, provide these types of details throughout the interrogation.

[00:16:56]- So obviously, I mean, do you have an idea what happened?

[00:17:04]- I mean, well yeah.

[00:17:07]But I can't tell you if you, like I'm not very good at explanation.

[00:17:11]- [Detective] Okay, so obviously you gave birth to a child.

[00:17:12]- Right.

[00:17:13]- [Detective] I'm trying to find out where it had happened, how it happened or what led to that and stuff like that.

[00:17:19]- I- - [Narrator] Alexis quickly glances upwards at the camera, for the first time.

[00:17:24]This is also the point where she is talking about when and where she gave birth.

[00:17:28]So for the first time in the interrogation, she wasn't being as forthcoming as before.

[00:17:33]It appears that she had some awareness that this could be incriminating information and she was more careful with her responses.

[00:17:39]- I went to sleep and then I woke up and I went to the restroom.

[00:17:41]And I was just trying and then it came out and I thought it was poop, and then it wasn't.

[00:17:50]- [Detective] Okay.

[00:17:53]So you were where?

[00:17:54]And you were at your house?

[00:17:56]- Yeah, I was by myself.

[00:18:00]- [Detective] You were by yourself?

[00:18:02]- Yes.

[00:18:03]- [Detective] Okay.

[00:18:04]And then, I mean that's not normal, right?

[00:18:05]- Right.

[00:18:06]- [Detective] Okay, what happened after that?

[00:18:07]- I was in a panic, I didn't know what to do.

[00:18:14]- [Detective] Okay.

[00:18:15]- I was scared.

[00:18:16]- [Detective] What'd you do after?

[00:18:17]- I cleaned myself and I just left it where it was.

[00:18:18]And I was scared and I was trying to call my mom, but I couldn't 'cause I was so scared.

[00:18:24]I think she was gonna hate me.

[00:18:25]- [Narrator] When Alexis recounts giving birth to the child, her voice is shaking and she sounds terrified.

[00:18:31]There are a few possible things happening here.

[00:18:34]She sounded particularly frantic when saying she was unable to tell her mother that she had given birth.

[00:18:39]Even if she has lied during the interrogation, her emotional response here appears to be genuine.

[00:18:44]She went to great lengths to not only hide her entire pregnancy, but also to hide her delivery.

[00:18:49]- What made you think that?

[00:18:51]- Just because I just turned 18.

[00:18:54]I haven't been 18 for a month and I'm the baby.

[00:18:58]- [Detective] Right.

[00:19:00]- [Narrator] Alexis gives what sounds like a potential motive for what she did, when she states her mother will hate her for being pregnant because she just turned 18.

[00:19:09]This may or may not be true, as Alexis has already displayed her propensity to lie.

[00:19:13]- [Detective] I understand, that's a lot to take, okay.

[00:19:16]And that's why I'm here getting your side of the story.

[00:19:20]You were home alone or who was- - No, I was by myself.

[00:19:23]- [Detective] You were by yourself.

[00:19:24]Okay and this happened where?

[00:19:25]In the restroom, your restroom?

[00:19:26]You guys have separate restrooms?

[00:19:28]- No, there's one restroom.

[00:19:29]- [Detective] There's one restroom.

[00:19:30]Okay.

[00:19:31]What'd you do after the fact?

[00:19:32]Or what happened?

[00:19:33]- What do you mean?

[00:19:34]- [Detective] I mean obviously- - I was just cleaning.

[00:19:37]I was scared and I didn't know what to do.

[00:19:40]- [Detective] Okay.

[00:19:41]- And I just wrapped it and I put it in a towel.

[00:19:46]- [Detective] Okay.

[00:19:47]- [Narrator] Notice how Alexis only refers to the child as "it" and not as anything else.

[00:19:52]Not even as "the baby" or anything like that.

[00:19:55]She may be trying to distance herself and could be referring to the baby as "it" unconsciously.

[00:20:00]This is also known as distancing language and it's a common human defense mechanism against potential emotional and psychological injury.

[00:20:08]Part of this could be that she is completely unable to process the situation and is in denial.

[00:20:13]She could be in such extreme fear of revealing she was pregnant, that she entered into some sort of state of partial disassociation.

[00:20:19]When someone is experiencing disassociation, they may feel as if an event is happening to someone else and they are just watching everything unfold.

[00:20:28]Most teens will let someone know if they become pregnant, such as their parents or the child's father.

[00:20:33]But the fact that Alexis handled the pregnancy in such a way, could show a level of emotional or psychological disturbance.

[00:20:39]- [Detective] Had you ever thought of contacting, you know, an ambulance or the fire department to go out there and check you out?

[00:20:45]- I didn't do it, I was scared.

[00:20:48]I didn't know what to do.

[00:20:51]Mm-hmm.

[00:20:52]Okay, scared of what exactly?

[00:20:55]- The baby.

[00:20:56]How it just, like it was out of nowhere.

[00:20:59]- [Detective] Right, but you're telling me that you knew yesterday, right?

[00:21:03]- Yeah, but I didn't know how and I didn't know nothing.

[00:21:09]- [Detective] Mm-hmm.

[00:21:10]- I knew, but I didn't like know it was coming today.

[00:21:12]- [Detective] Right.

[00:21:13]- [Narrator] She seems to slip up and says she knew about the pregnancy, but then quickly follows up with "I knew, but I didn't know he was coming that day."

[00:21:21]- [Detective] So, it was unexpected.

[00:21:22]- Right.

[00:21:23]- [Detective] You weren't expecting it to happen?

[00:21:24]- No.

[00:21:25]- [Detective] Did you contact anybody?

[00:21:26]- No.

[00:21:27]- [Detective] Okay.

[00:21:28]You said you didn't contact your mom?

[00:21:29]- No, I tried, but I couldn't.

[00:21:30]I was scared.

[00:21:31]- [Detective] Mm-hmm.

[00:21:32]Okay, so there's a difference between being scared, I mean, I understand you're young, you don't know obviously.

[00:21:41]Both, you and I know that, I mean, pregnancies, you know, they're pretty obvious.

[00:21:46]Your stomach starts growing, you know, you got several different symptoms and stuff like that.

[00:21:53]- I didn't know nothing.

[00:21:54]- [Detective] Right.

[00:21:55]- I didn't have nothing.

[00:21:57]I just thought I was gaining weight.

[00:22:00]I was eating more.

[00:22:02]Nothing changed.

[00:22:03]- [Detective] Mm-hmm.

[00:22:04]So, you're in the restroom, you give birth, you wrap it into a towel.

[00:22:09]What is that, your towel?

[00:22:10]What color towel?

[00:22:11]- I don't even remember, to be honest.

[00:22:12]- [Detective] Okay, so what was your next, what else did you do after that?

[00:22:15]- I just left and I drove around and I just put it where I put it.

[00:22:22]- [Detective] Okay.

[00:22:23]Where are we talking about?

[00:22:24]Put it where?

[00:22:25]I mean, obviously I know where you went and you didn't put- - Right like- - [Narrator] The detective becomes aggressive and pushes back against Alexis' denials.

[00:22:34]This is the Reid technique.

[00:22:36]The detective did everything he could to make her comfortable and get her talking, relying heavily on empathy and minimization.

[00:22:41]Minimization is a resistance-reducing tactic often utilized in interrogations to decrease suspects' levels of resistance to confess or tell the truth.

[00:22:51]Law enforcement communicates that what the suspect has done is understandable, even justifiable.

[00:22:56]Now the detective is transitioning to a more confrontational approach, since he's gotten what he's needed out of her.

[00:23:03]- I had the trash bag in the car.

[00:23:05]- [Detective] Okay.

[00:23:06]- If you couldn't tell, the car is messy.

[00:23:09]- [Detective] Mm-hmm.

[00:23:10]- But I put it, - [Detective] So?

[00:23:12]- And then I put, I put it in the bag.

[00:23:19]I took it to the car.

[00:23:23]When I was in the car, I had two trash bags.

[00:23:29]I took one with me, which is the one that I had.

[00:23:34]And then I put it again and then I drove around and I didn't know what to do.

[00:23:37]And I just put it in there.

[00:23:39]- [Narrator] First Alexis says the trash bag she put the baby in, was already in her car.

[00:23:44]- Well, I had the trash bag in the car.

[00:23:47]- [Narrator] While she did say her car was messy, most people don't go around driving with empty trash bags inside their vehicle.

[00:23:54]Alexis then slips up and says, she put "it" in the bag.

[00:23:57]Then she took it to the car.

[00:23:58]I put it in the bag, I took it to the car.

[00:24:02]- [Narrator] She realizes her mistake and then tries to cover it up, saying she had two trash bags.

[00:24:06]- I had two trash bags.

[00:24:07]- [Narrator] Ones she took with her and one already in the car.

[00:24:10]Here, she wants to make the disposing of the baby seem less planned.

[00:24:14]Alexis's voice trembles as she speaks.

[00:24:17]When humans grow stressed, the vocal chords may tighten, making speech more difficult.

[00:24:22]When this happens, listeners often hear some level of wheezing, trembling, strain, or pitch-raise, an individual's vocal expression.

[00:24:29]- [Detective] Where did you go?

[00:24:30]- What do you mean?

[00:24:31]- [Detective] Where did you drive to?

[00:24:33]- JC Penney.

[00:24:34]I was in that area.

[00:24:36]I live in that area.

[00:24:38]- [Detective] Mm-hmm.

[00:24:39]So, where did you throw the garbage bag?

[00:24:44]- In the trash?

[00:24:45]- [Detective] The trash.

[00:24:46]- [Narrator] Alexis completely avoids using the word dumpster and speaks in very general terms to downplay the horrific actions she allegedly took.

[00:24:54]- [Detective] Okay, did you lock it up?

[00:24:58]Conceal it up?

[00:24:59]- With the hair tie.

[00:25:01]- [Detective] I'm sorry.

[00:25:02]- With the hair tie.

[00:25:03]- [Detective] With the hair tie?

[00:25:04]- I don't even think it stuck 'cause it was broke.

[00:25:05]- [Detective] Okay, so you just- - It was the verge of breaking.

[00:25:07]- [Detective] Okay, were you by yourself in the car- - I was by myself the whole time.

[00:25:09]- [Detective] Okay.

[00:25:10]You never notified anybody?

[00:25:11]- No.

[00:25:12]- [Detective] Okay.

[00:25:13]So you grabbed your hair tie and just wrapped it around the bag?

[00:25:14]- Yeah.

[00:25:15]- [Detective] Both bags or?

[00:25:16]- No, just, Well, I guess, yeah.

[00:25:17]- [Detective] What color was the bag?

[00:25:18]- Black.

[00:25:19]- [Detective] The black bag.

[00:25:20]So you put the hair tie around the black bag?

[00:25:21]All right.

[00:25:22]I mean the trash- - Like in the trash, I just, when I tossed it in there.

[00:25:24]- [Detective] Was it a normal trash can?

[00:25:25]Like one of those, that the city picks up or the bigger trash can, or what?

[00:25:33]- The bigger trash can.

[00:25:36]- [Detective] What kind of trash can were we talking about?

[00:25:43]There's different ones.

[00:25:45]- The bigger one, I guess.

[00:25:48]- [Detective] Okay, what color was the trash can?

[00:25:51]- Green.

[00:25:52]Weren't they hot green?

[00:25:53]- [Detective] So you just went and placed it inside or outside or- - Inside.

[00:25:55]- [Narrator] The detective is asking her to describe these events and using a very delicate manner in doing so.

[00:26:00]He knows she will have a hard time owning up to what she allegedly did.

[00:26:04]So he stays very calm and casual when asking her specifics about how and where the newborn was discarded.

[00:26:10]- So obviously you're 18 years of age, you know right from wrong, right?

[00:26:17]- Right.

[00:26:18]- [Detective] Okay.

[00:26:19]So, you wrap around a newborn inside a trash bag- - In a panic.

[00:26:24]I just turned 18.

[00:26:26]- [Detective] Right, right.

[00:26:27]- It's not like I've been 18 for forever.

[00:26:30]- [Detective] Exactly.

[00:26:31]- [Narrator] Alexis says she knows right from wrong, but she continues to try to justify her actions by saying that she was afraid and that she just turned 18.

[00:26:39]She actually smiles at this point.

[00:26:42]She emphasizes her age a few times during the interview, possibly to imply that she's barely an adult.

[00:26:47]She could also be claiming that she allegedly made the decision to abandon the baby in a dumpster because of her young age and lack of knowledge or awareness of what to do.

[00:26:57]This seems to be her attempt to try to dodge the consequences that she imagines are coming.

[00:27:01]- [Detective] But you know, I mean, if somebody were to wrap you inside a trash can and put a tie on it and you're not able to move- - Well, the tie was broke.

[00:27:11]Like I would be able to stick my hand in there.

[00:27:13]- [Detective] What do you think would've happened?

[00:27:15]- What do you mean?

[00:27:16]- [Detective] So what do you think would've happened?

[00:27:18]You never notified law enforcement, you never called for EMS, you never- - And I didn't, I'm still in, - [Detective] Mm-hmm.

[00:27:24]What do you think was gonna happen?

[00:27:27]- I don't know.

[00:27:29]- [Detective] You don't know would've happened?

[00:27:33]- Well, I mean obviously I know, but- - [Detective] Mm-hmm.

[00:27:36]- And I'm in a panic.

[00:27:37]There's a baby in front of me, I just, - [Detective] Okay, you never notified your mom?

[00:27:44]- Never.

[00:27:45]- [Detective] No, you never notified anybody.

[00:27:49]- Nobody.

[00:27:50]- [Detective] Okay, so it's not normal behavior from any reasonable person to do what you did.

[00:27:59]If I'm making a- - What do you mean?

[00:28:01]- [Detective] It's not- - In a panic when I just turned 18.

[00:28:03]- [Detective] Right.

[00:28:04]It still isn't though.

[00:28:05]We're talking about a baby- - Well, I know.

[00:28:07]I know what you mean, but like, I get what you mean.

[00:28:11]- [Narrator] Armed with a confession, the detective goes back to being confrontational, but when he asks her what she thought would happen, she essentially shrugs her shoulders, which is yet another point that demonstrates she might not grasp the consequences of her suspected actions.

[00:28:26]This is what the detective is actively probing for.

[00:28:29]The detective continues to be harsh and confrontational and it still never appears to phase Alexis.

[00:28:34]- [Detective] Let me take a small break.

[00:28:36]I'll be right back.

[00:28:37]- Can my mom come in here when you're gone?

[00:28:42]- Well, you're 18, you're of age, okay.

[00:28:48]So, unless you were a juvenile, then that would change things.

[00:28:51]But gimme just a minute, I'll be right back.

[00:28:52]- So not even while you're out in the room?

[00:28:53]- [Detective] Let me see what I can do, okay.

[00:29:00]- [Narrator] The detective has what he needs from her and he appears to be getting upset or angry.

[00:29:07]By leaving, he's attempting to de-escalate himself.

[00:29:10]He may also be reaching out to the prosecutor's office to see what else they would like to get from Alexis.

[00:29:15]- [Detective] Sorry about that, Alexis.

[00:29:21]All right, back to where we left off.

[00:29:30]I appreciate you, you know, telling me what happened and stuff.

[00:29:33]What did you do after the fact?

[00:29:36]What time, more or less, was it?

[00:29:38]Do you remember?

[00:29:39]Do you recall?

[00:29:40]Like 2:15 maybe, somewhere around that time.

[00:29:42]- Okay, that's when you dropped off the baby?

[00:29:45]- Somewhere, I believe so, yeah.

[00:29:47]- [Detective] What did you do after the fact?

[00:29:49]- I continued to drive around.

[00:29:50]- [Detective] Continued to drive around?

[00:29:52]To do what?

[00:29:53]- To just, I don't know, just to figure out what to do.

[00:29:58]- [Detective] Okay.

[00:29:59]What else, I mean, where'd you go?

[00:30:00]Where'd you end up going?

[00:30:02]Where did you do- - I ended up going to my house.

[00:30:06]- [Detective] You ended up going to your house.

[00:30:07]What did you do after?

[00:30:08]- When I went to my house, I just sat on my bed and I was trying to figure out what I was supposed to do or what to do.

[00:30:20]- At any point, did you make anybody aware of it?

[00:30:23]- No, I was still in shock.

[00:30:25]- [Detective] Okay, nobody found out, nobody knew about it?

[00:30:26]Okay.

[00:30:27]Were your parents back home at the time?

[00:30:28]You were home alone?

[00:30:29]Okay.

[00:30:30]- [Narrator] When the detective returns, he's no longer using his confrontational tone.

[00:30:34]While he was out of the room, he either realized or was told that he needed to obtain more information from her and wants her to continue speaking to him.

[00:30:41]So he's returning to the positive confrontation technique.

[00:30:44]- [Detective] Did you seek any medical attention or no?

[00:30:48]Did you think about, you know, what could have happened or what could end up happening to the baby?

[00:30:56]- Yeah.

[00:30:57]- [Detective] Okay.

[00:30:58]- My mom said I was in love with it.

[00:31:02]Is it okay?

[00:31:03]- [Detective] Okay.

[00:31:04]They'll be briefing me here as we go.

[00:31:05]So last I heard, the baby's okay.

[00:31:06]- Oh thank God.

[00:31:07]- [Detective] Okay.

[00:31:09]So.

[00:31:10]- [Narrator] This is the first time in the entire interview.

[00:31:13]Alexis gives any indication that she cares about the baby and the tremble in her voice could be interpreted as an indication of remorse or emotional distress.

[00:31:21]It could also indicate the presence of relief, resulting from knowledge of the possibility of less severe punishment and she's relieved for her own sake.

[00:31:30]The fact that not once has she brought up or asked about the condition of the child, only further shows she is completely disassociated from the child.

[00:31:39]Whether that be from shock, lack of caring or something else entirely.

[00:31:42]- [Detective] Did it ever cross your mind to let anybody know, contact law enforcement, you know, go back?

[00:31:50]I don't know.

[00:31:51]- [Narrator] The detective is trying to ascertain her state of mind after the fact, by asking her what she did after and what she was thinking.

[00:31:58]This is to get evidence showing she never had a change of heart or tried to help the baby in any way.

[00:32:04]Alexis again shows no remorse.

[00:32:06]- [Detective] Okay.

[00:32:07]- 'Cause I was still in shock the whole time.

[00:32:09]When my parents got home, I just didn't tell them.

[00:32:14]I was still in shock.

[00:32:15]I was just in my room.

[00:32:16]- [Detective] In your room?

[00:32:17]Okay, did you ever leave the home afterwards?

[00:32:19]Did you go anywhere?

[00:32:20]- No.

[00:32:21]- [Detective] Did you talk to your parents when they got home?

[00:32:25]- Yeah, eventually.

[00:32:26]But I didn't say anything.

[00:32:27]- [Detective] Mm-hmm.

[00:32:28]So your parents had no knowledge?

[00:32:30]- No knowledge, absolutely not.

[00:32:32]- [Detective] And what if I were to tell you that they did have knowledge?

[00:32:37]- What do you mean?

[00:32:38]- [Detective] They told me they did know about it.

[00:32:39]What would you say then?

[00:32:40]- How, because I didn't even know.

[00:32:43]- [Detective] Okay.

[00:32:45]You didn't know, but yesterday you found out?

[00:32:46]- What do you mean?

[00:32:48]Because I feel like we're talking about two different things and it's not going well.

[00:32:54]- [Detective] We're talking about the baby that was thrown in a trash like garbage, right.

[00:32:58]And it's a human being.

[00:32:59]That's what we're talking about.

[00:33:01]- My knowledge is when they found out is when the officer showed up at my house.

[00:33:07]- [Detective] Okay, so I'm talking about the knowledge of you being pregnant, obviously.

[00:33:11]- Oh.

[00:33:12]- [Narrator] At this point, Alexis tries to make it seem like her earlier statements were a big misunderstanding, which could be a deflection technique or defense mechanism to try and cast doubt on her earlier statements.

[00:33:23]- [Detective] 'Cause I know that you knew back when you found out you were pregnant.

[00:33:30]and it wasn't yesterday.

[00:33:31]That's what I know.

[00:33:33]Okay.

[00:33:34]Like I said, I don't go that route, but I know and I do my investigation prior to even talking to you and coming out here and interviewing you, okay.

[00:33:43]And as I told you, I'm not here to judge you.

[00:33:46]There's two sides to a story, but if you're gonna come and tell me that you found out you were pregnant yesterday and I know that's a lie.

[00:33:53]- Well I, sorry- - [Detective] Go ahead.

[00:33:56]- No, go ahead.

[00:33:57]- [Detective] It changes things because I don't appreciate that.

[00:34:00]- Right.

[00:34:01]I found out I was pregnant yesterday because I heard it.

[00:34:03]The doctor showed me.

[00:34:05]I knew back in whenever, but I didn't know.

[00:34:12]Does that make sense?

[00:34:13]I was like, "oh, it's whatever."

[00:34:15]- [Narrator] Alexis tries to stick to her story and uses air quotes to say she knew, but didn't know, which could be her way of using vague statements to deflect from giving a straight answer.

[00:34:25]According to research, women who effectively deny their pregnancy, know, but do not feel that they are pregnant.

[00:34:33]These women often don't go through the typical bonding stag, that many women experience while they're pregnant.

[00:34:38]This may explain somewhat why Alexis appears to be focused on herself and why she doesn't show any empathy for the baby.

[00:34:44]- [Detective] So you knew back when, when is this?

[00:34:45]What are we talking about?

[00:34:48]- Back in, - [Narrator] When she is asked, when she really found out she was pregnant, Alexis takes a strikingly long pause.

[00:34:57]That shouldn't be something she has to mull over.

[00:35:00]- August.

[00:35:01]- [Detective] Okay.

[00:35:02]- Maybe a little bit before that.

[00:35:05]- [Narrator] Her answer is "in August", which is in stark contrast to the original story she was so adamant about.

[00:35:11]- [Detective] Right, I- - I found that out yesterday.

[00:35:13]- [Detective] You found that out yesterday?

[00:35:16]- Yesterday.

[00:35:17]- [Detective] Okay.

[00:35:18]So yesterday, whenever you went to the doctor, how far long did they tell you you were?

[00:35:23]- They didn't say.

[00:35:24]- [Detective] They didn't tell you?

[00:35:25]- No.

[00:35:26]- [Detective] Okay.

[00:35:27]So- - That's how I didn't know it was coming today.

[00:35:29]- [Detective] Mm-hmm.

[00:35:30]All right, so obviously I'm not a girl.

[00:35:31]I'm a guy.

[00:35:32]- Right.

[00:35:33]- [Detective] But I know women have menstrual periods.

[00:35:35]So how can you not know?

[00:35:37]- I had my menstrual period every month.

[00:35:40]- [Detective] Okay, so that never changed.

[00:35:42]- Never.

[00:35:43]- [Detective] But you knew back in August?

[00:35:44]- Well, I took two.

[00:35:45]One was positive and one was negative.

[00:35:47]I took the negative.

[00:35:50]I didn't- - [Detective] Okay, what about, you know, as far as the gaining weight, any movement, anything like that?

[00:35:58]- No, sir.

[00:35:59]- [Detective] Okay.

[00:36:00]- [Narrator] The detective becomes more confrontational with her again, as he's likely gotten all the information he came back into the room for, at this point.

[00:36:07]He has established both prior knowledge and her failure to help the newborn.

[00:36:11]As well as establish a fairly clear timeline of events, despite to Alexis' denial.

[00:36:17]- [Detective] So back in June, you had an incident, I guess you ran away from home.

[00:36:22]Were you having- - No, I guess you could say ran away.

[00:36:24]- [Detective] Okay, was it a result of this and were you having no problems with- - It was a completely different matter.

[00:36:34]- [Detective] Okay.

[00:36:35]So is this the father of your baby, the person you were you were having issues with?

[00:36:41]You were sending me messages to your mom, suicidal messages saying that you were gonna be with God and cops were called out to your address in June.

[00:36:46]Des this have to do, to me, obviously- - It had nothing to do with him, absolutely nothing.

[00:36:54]- [Detective] And this is not the person that is responsible for your baby or?

[00:36:59]- I have no clue.

[00:37:02]- [Detective] I know this is a lot of questions I'm asking, I'm just trying to figure out, like I said, I'm not interrogating.

[00:37:07]- Yes, sir.

[00:37:08]- [Detective] Okay, so it's not a result of this.

[00:37:09]- He had nothing to do, like it was- - [Detective] Right.

[00:37:12]So it's not him.

[00:37:13]Is there somebody we need to talk to?

[00:37:14]I mean, did he do something to you, - No, no, no, he didn't.

[00:37:20]- [Detective] that would lead to this?

[00:37:22]- No, no, no.

[00:37:23]- [Detective] Did he know?

[00:37:24]- No.

[00:37:25]- [Detective] Okay.

[00:37:26]But you do know who was the father of the baby?

[00:37:27]- Yes.

[00:37:28]- [Detective] Okay.

[00:37:29]But he didn't.

[00:37:30]Yeah.

[00:37:31]- [Detective] Okay, do you mind sharing his name?

[00:37:37]- Stephen Astorga.

[00:37:39]- [Detective] Okay.

[00:37:40]Stephen Astorga?

[00:37:42]- Yes, sir.

[00:37:43]- [Detective] Do you happen to know his date of birth by chance?

[00:37:46]- I don't.

[00:37:47]Sorry.

[00:37:48]- [Detective] Do you know, more or less, how old he is?

[00:37:49]- He's 16.

[00:37:50]17.

[00:37:51]One of those.

[00:37:53]- [Detective] 16 or 17?

[00:37:55]- Yeah.

[00:37:56]- [Detective] And y'all dated for how long?

[00:37:57]- About a year and a half.

[00:37:58]- [Detective] Okay.

[00:37:59]So I'm assuming you met in school?

[00:38:01]- Yes.

[00:38:02]- [Narrator] The detective asks her about the baby's father, 16-year-old Stephen Astorga, but she has no interest in talking about him either.

[00:38:11]She had been more open to answering questions earlier, but not anymore.

[00:38:15]What the detective is doing here is trying to establish alternative motives for Alexis.

[00:38:19]- Do you mind me asking what happened or what?

[00:38:22]Did y'all break up?

[00:38:24]- We broke up.

[00:38:25]It just wasn't working out.

[00:38:26]Okay.

[00:38:27]When did y'all break up?

[00:38:28]- When?

[00:38:29]- [Detective] Mm-hmm.

[00:38:30]- Oh, I don't even remember.

[00:38:31]- [Detective] You don't remember?

[00:38:34]More or less?

[00:38:38]A year ago?

[00:38:43]- About August, I think.

[00:38:47]- [Detective] Around August.

[00:38:48]- Yeah.

[00:38:49]Sometime, like the beginning of school.

[00:38:50]- [Detective] Okay.

[00:38:51]So you said things were working out?

[00:38:55]- Yeah.

[00:38:56]- [Detective] So obviously, if you know enough for you to tell me that he's obviously the father of your child, you should have known when you got pregnant, right?

[00:39:07]- Honestly, not really.

[00:39:09]- [Detective] Not really?

[00:39:10]But you you're able to tell me who it is, so you- - Well, he was the only one I've ever been with.

[00:39:13]- [Detective] A reasonable person would say that you knew when you got pregnant.

[00:39:18]- With all due respect, not necessarily, 'cause I mean- - [Detective] Okay.

[00:39:20]I'm just, you know- - Yeah, I know- - [Detective] You're giving information obviously, but he didn't do anything as far as to lead you to do this, did he?

[00:39:33]Nothing?

[00:39:34]Okay.

[00:39:35]- [Narrator] Alexis essentially gives a vague response.

[00:39:37]There could be a reason for this, she admits they broke up in August, around the same time she alleges, she found out she was pregnant.

[00:39:44]It's extremely unlikely, these two things are unrelated.

[00:39:47]When asked if the baby's father made her feel a particular way, that might have caused her fear, she denied it.

[00:39:53]Interestingly, a person with Antisocial Personality Disorder often tries to deflect responsibility or blame others.

[00:39:59]And they will lie and incriminate others, if it means absolving themselves.

[00:40:04]The fact that Alexis didn't try to blame her parents or the baby's father, despite likely knowing that she could be facing serious consequences for what she did, is an indication that she does not have APD.

[00:40:15]Although, it's impossible to determine from an interrogation alone that Alexis suffers from any specific disorder.

[00:40:22]She exhibits numerous behaviors that could be viewed through a pathological lens, intense worry, possible delusion and past suicidal ideation, for example, could all indicate or play a role in a larger diagnosis.

[00:40:35]Such as either two of the most common mental illnesses in the United States, generalized anxiety disorder and depression.

[00:40:41]- [Detective] Did you just think you would be better off without a child because you're too young?

[00:40:50]- No I, Wait, wait, sorry.

[00:40:52]Go backtrack.

[00:40:53]What do you mean?

[00:40:55]- [Detective] I'm trying reason as far as what- - Like what is in my head or like what- - [Detective] I'm trying to reason your actions, that's what I'm trying to find out.

[00:41:03]- Oh.

[00:41:04]- [Detective] A reason behind your actions.

[00:41:06]I knew I was too young, but I knew I'm about graduate school, so school's not my worry.

[00:41:15]I have a stable job.

[00:41:18]Money's not a worry for me.

[00:41:21]- [Detective] Okay.

[00:41:22]- So I would be able to, if the baby's okay, I want it.

[00:41:26]- [Detective] Okay.

[00:41:28]So what if I told you the baby was dead.

[00:41:34]What would change then?

[00:41:36]- Nothing.

[00:41:37]- [Narrator] And a surprise, out of nowhere, Alexis says that if the baby is healthy and okay, then she wants it back.

[00:41:45]It's possible that Alexis felt like she could fix or undo what she did by saying that now she would take the baby.

[00:41:51]The statement may have just been made as a last ditch effort to make herself look better to the detective.

[00:41:56]But it doesn't work.

[00:41:57]- [Detective] And again, I'm gonna ask you, do you need any medical, I know you, I mean, you gave birth.

[00:42:03]Obviously, it's not something normal, it's not something you do every day.

[00:42:06]Do you need us to call an ambulance out here?

[00:42:09]I mean, my worry's your wellbeing.

[00:42:12]- Yeah, no, I know.

[00:42:13]I don't feel a need, but I- - [Detective] I mean you're 18 year of age- - Right.

[00:42:18]- [Detective] If anything, you can at least get checked out and it's up to you.

[00:42:22]- Would my mom be able to take me?

[00:42:24]- [Detective] Yeah, that's completely up to you.

[00:42:26]I mean, I'm just asking you right now Ii you need an somebody come check you out- - Well, I'd prefer not here.

[00:42:34]- [Detective] Okay.

[00:42:35]So, maybe my mom could take me somewhere.

[00:42:39]- [Detective] Okay, perfect.

[00:42:40]Let me just take one last break and I'll be right back, okay.

[00:42:46]- And my mom still can't come in here?

[00:42:49]- [Detective] Like I said you-re- - When you're not in here?

[00:42:52]- [Detective] All right, I understand.

[00:42:58]Let me go talk to - [Narrator] Throughout this last portion, Alexis asks repeatedly for her mom.

[00:43:03]This seems to contradict her prior statement that she didn't reach out to her mom when she gave birth because she was afraid she would hate her.

[00:43:10]Yet, now she wants her mother involved as much as possible.

[00:43:14]This could give doubt to prior statements, that she feared her mother would hate her.

[00:43:17]And that is why she didn't tell her or ask for her help.

[00:43:20]- [Detective] All right Alexis, I'm done as far as any questions for you.

[00:43:26]Do you have any questions for me?

[00:43:29]- No, sir.

[00:43:30]- [Detective] No, okay.

[00:43:31]I don't know if you want to wait out in the lobby, I just got- - Where's my mom?

[00:43:38]- [Detective] She's in here, I just need to talk to her real quick and then she'll be- - And I can't be with her while you talk to her?

[00:43:52]- [Detective] Not together.

[00:43:53]It's just how we work, this is about our policy.

[00:43:54]- [Detective] So, do you wanna wait here?

[00:43:55]You wait out there?

[00:43:56]- I'll wait in here.

[00:43:57]- [Detective] Okay, like I said, at any point you want, this door is, you know it's unlocked.

[00:44:00]You can just walk out.

[00:44:01]- Where do I go?

[00:44:02]- [Detective] You're probably better off, or do you wanna stay in here?

[00:44:03]Okay.

[00:44:04]- [Narrator] There is a red flag apparent in Alexis' interview.

[00:44:05]It was mentioned by the investigator that there was record of her running away from home, in June of last year.

[00:44:10]This is a red flag because this would've been at the beginning of her pregnancy, which indicates that whatever stressor was going on at the time, might have triggered the series of events that culminated in Alexis not seeking medical attention throughout her pregnancy.

[00:44:24]Hiding the pregnancy and ultimately giving birth alone and allegedly leaving the baby to die.

[00:44:29]It's possible that a stressful event occurred in June, possibly her realizing that the pregnancy was real.

[00:44:35]And this is where Alexis snapped.

[00:44:37]Many states, including New Mexico, have Safe Haven laws, that allow mothers or fathers to take an unharmed newborn to a designated drop-off location, such as a local hospital instead leaving them somewhere else or doing something they will later regret.

[00:44:52]It's unlikely that Alexis was aware of such a law and education may have prevented this tragedy from happening.

[00:44:59]The police allowing her to be seen by a hospital after her confession, is not at all that surprising.

[00:45:05]She'd just given birth without any medical assistance and is just over age of majority.

[00:45:11]She could easily have had a serious infection due to the unsanitary environment she was in when she had the baby.

[00:45:17]The police likely escorted her and her mother to the hospital to ensure she was not given an opportunity to flee or go elsewhere.

[00:45:25]Alexis was arrested shortly after the interrogation and charged with attempted first degree murder and felony abuse of the child, to which she pleaded not guilty at her hearing.

[00:45:34]The judge placed her on house arrest, only allowing her to leave for school, work or a medical appointment or counseling sessions.

[00:45:41]As well, she's not allowed any contact with her newborn child, nor any men that don't live in her house.

[00:45:48]The most important piece is that Alexis Avila's mother, Martha, publicly claims that the birth came as a shock to the entire family, as they did not know Alexis was pregnant.

[00:45:58]She later went on to say that she believes her daughter's story and says that everyone makes mistakes.

[00:46:04]The child, named Saul by Stephen Astorga, is recovering at a hospital in Lubbock, Texas.

[00:46:10]The baby needed a blood transfusion after being recovered from the dumpster, but is doing well and is expected to be fine.

[00:46:17]Astorga's family also claims to have not known about the pregnancy.

[00:46:20]However, according to texts sent to the Daily Mail by a friend of Stephen Astorga, Alexis told Stephen she was pregnant, but had later told him that she miscarried after they broke up.

[00:46:31]Nonetheless, the Astorga family is currently fighting for custody of baby Saul.

[00:46:35]Moreover, Alexis's friends have come out and claimed Alexis had been open about her pregnancy at school, before she stopped attending.

[00:46:43]But with all of this in mind, Alexis Avila has not been convicted of the crime yet, as she is currently awaiting trial.