Washington County mom charged with murder in newborn death

A 24-year-old Warthen woman is accused of leaving her newborn baby to die on a rural dirt road in Washington County.

Jessica Ballard of Bussell Road was charged with murder Thursday after she was released from the Oconee Regional Medical Center in Milledgeville, Washington County Sheriff Thomas Smith said.

"The baby was alive when she discarded the baby at the location on Middle Hill Road," Smith said.

Ballard delivered the infant in her car and allegedly left it to die between midnight Saturday and 3 a.m. Sunday.

"It's so sad. It's the worst case I've worked since I've been in law enforcement," said Smith, a 30-year veteran.

Ballard showed up at the Washington County Regional Hospital early Sunday, Smith said. She was transferred to Oconee Regional in Milledgeville to undergo a procedure to remove fetal tissue from the uterus.

Investigators received a tip that the baby had been abandoned on the isolated dirt road, Smith said.

The body is at a GBI Crime Lab for an autopsy to determine whether there were any other contributing factors, such as blunt force trauma, that might have hastened death.

Deputies originally charged Ballard with cruelty to children and making false statements.

Smith said Ballard had not given any explanation for her actions, but she requested an attorney.

"The baby was right in the road," he said. "No regard for human life."

Ballard was arrested at the hospital and taken to the Washington County jail.

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This story was originally published October 15, 2015 at 3:00 PM with the headline "Washington County mom charged with murder in newborn death ."