Dennis Eckersley is a family member of the MLB Hall of Fame Pitcher “In Complete Shock” A Daughter is Accused of Freezing Baby in Woods After Being Left Behind
Alexandra Eckersley’s extended family speaks out about her. faces multiple charges after allegedly misleading Manchester, New Hampshire police in a search for her newborn baby boy in the woods early Monday.
Alexandra, still in hospital after giving birth in a tent set up in the woods in 18 degree weather, is the adopted child of Dennis Eckersley, a MLB Hall of Fame pitcher, and Nancy, his ex-wife.
In a statement to WCVB On Thursday, the Eckersley Family stated that they are “still in complete shock” After reading about the tragedy from news reports, with no prior knowledge of their daughter’s pregnancy.
“We are utterly devastated by the events that unfolded on Christmas night when our daughter Allie delivered a baby while living in a tent. It is heartbreaking that a child was born under such unthinkable conditions and in such tragic circumstances,” In the statement, the Eckersleys stated that they were proud to be part of the Eckersley clan. “We learned with everyone else from news reports what happened and are still in complete shock. We had no prior knowledge of Allie’s pregnancy.”
The Eckersleys thanked the Manchester hospital staff and first responders. “for saving this innocent newborn boy.” Alexandra was also able to help them explain their family history. her experience with mental illness and homelessness.
“Allie is our beloved daughter who we adopted at birth,” The statement was continued. “Though it is painful to share, we feel it necessary to offer greater context of Allie’s circumstances and background. Allie suffered from severe mental illness throughout her life. Allie spent many nights in hospital and was also a resident at several facilities. We tried our best to provide Allie with the best possible support and care.
“Once Allie became an adult there was even less we could do because she was legally free to make her own decisions as long as she was not a danger to herself or others. There was no way to force Allie to get treatment under existing laws. We supported her however, as best we could.
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“Since she was twenty, Allie chose to live on the streets in New Hampshire. New Hampshire has a broken mental health system, just like in other states. The previous state hospital had 2500 psychiatric bed. Today, there are only 200 beds available for over 1.2 million people. In addition to this, the state was forced by staff shortages to eliminate 48 more beds. State mental systems fail if there are not enough inpatient beds for crisis treatment and stabilization.
“We have always offered Allie a path home but she has made other choices. We hope Allie now accepts the treatment she desperately needs for her mental health issues. We also hope that all those who have heard this tragic story withhold judgment about our daughter until all the facts come out.”
According to WCVB the Eckersley family said They were filing a guardianship application to be involved in making decisions regarding the infant.
In a May 2019 interview, Alexandra – who was said to be dealing with bipolar disorder, depression and anxiety – told the Concord Monitor She stated that she was in and out of several treatment facilities for behavioral and mental problems since she was 6. In a statement to the outlet, Alexandra’s family stated that she had been diagnosed with a mental illness at the tender age of 2.
Alexandra, 26, was charged with felony reckless conduct and endangering child welfare. On Tuesday, she was called to be arraigned.
At the time, prosecutors said Alexandra’s mother, Nancy, told them that she and Dennis, her ex-husband, offered their daughter drug treatment for years, which she refused and chose to be homeless.
According to an affidavit cited by WCVB, Eckersley told police she did not know she was pregnant and admitted to using cocaine and marijuana in the days before the baby’s birth.
Officials discovered the child, who was naked and unclothed, near the Piscataquog River. He was struggling to breath in a tent in 18-degree temperatures.
When asked why she left her baby there, Alexandra told officials According to a police statement, she was trying save herself. cited by the Boston Herald On Wednesday
“What do they tell you when a plane goes down? Save yourself first,” Alexandra spoke to officers as she waited for an ambulance on Monday morning.
Eckersley’s boyfriend — identified in court papers as 45-year-old George Theberge — was also present, according to the police affidavit.
Alexandra’s public defender, Jordan Strand, said in New Hampshire’s Hillsborough County Superior Court that his client was suffering from blood loss and possible hypothermia after giving birth.
“She did what she had to do to get help. Childbirth is incredibly dangerous even under the best of circumstances,” Strand stated.
Assistant County Attorney Carl Olson stated that emergency breathing was performed by EMS on the baby. He was first taken to Catholic Medical Center. Then, he was transferred to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center where he is still intubated. According to reports, the baby weighed 4.4 lbs after being born around three months early.
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