The Case of Harriette Hoyt: Abandoned Her Baby outside For 72 Hours After "An Argument" With A Friend
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Harriette Hoyt, a 17-year-old from Pennsylvania, left her daughter in a plastic bag under a bush for three days.
Against all odds, the baby survived the ordeal, sparking widespread outrage and discussions about mental health and parental responsibilities.
What Did Harriette Hoyt Do?
On August 5, 2017, Harriette Hoyt, a teenager from Sayre, Pennsylvania, visited a friend in Elmira, New York.
According to court documents, Hoyt became overwhelmed after an argument with her friend.
As a result, she decided to abandon her 8-month-old daughter, Sabrina, in a plastic kitchen garbage bag.
Hoyt later admitted that she wanted time away from the baby and believed the bag would protect her child from the elements.
However, the baby was left outdoors without food, water, or proper care for 72 hours according to law enforcement in Elmira, New York.
This wicked act of baby abandonment could have ended tragically, but thankfully it didn't in this case.
Harriette Hoyt
How Did the Baby Survive After Being Abandoned?
For three days, the baby remained in the plastic bag, exposed to fluctuating weather conditions.
Neighbors Kayla and Karen Seals, who initially thought they were hearing a distressed animal, discovered the child on August 8, 2017.
Kayla described the moment: “Her legs were just dangling in the bag. Her head was in the bag. Her whole head was covered all the way down.”
The baby was covered in maggots, sunburned, and struggling to breathe, but she miraculously survived.
The sisters quickly called 911 cleaned the baby, and provided first aid until emergency responders arrived.
The child was transported to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, where she was treated and eventually placed in foster care.
Elmira Police Sergeant William Solt called the sisters “heroes.”
After the baby was discovered, police quickly identified Hoyt as the mother through interviews with local residents.
She was arrested and held on a $250,000 cash bond.
Trial and Sentence: What Charges Did Harriette Hoyt Face?
Initially, Harriette Hoyt faced second-degree attempted murder charges.
Criminal Investigators determined that Hoyt deliberately abandoned the baby, intending harm.
The legal consequences of baby abandonment in New York are severe, especially in cases where the child’s life is endangered.
In her confession, Hoyt claimed postpartum depression and stress led to her actions.
She claimed she “snapped” and feared she might harm her daughter out of anger.
Despite her plea for understanding, prosecutors highlighted her lack of remorse.
"She never showed any remorse for her child, " said District Attorney Weeden Wetmore, one of the best lawyers in New York.
In December 2017, Hoyt accepted a plea agreement, pleading guilty to second-degree attempted murder.
On February 9, 2018, Chemung County Judge Richard W. Rich Jr. sentenced her to nine years in state prison, followed by five years of post-release supervision.
Judge Rich described the case as one of the worst he had encountered.
“By a miracle, the child was found and survived. If the people had offered 20 years, I don’t think that would have been bad,” said the Judge.
The plea deal spared Hoyt a potential 25-year sentence.
However, the court also issued an order of protection, prohibiting her from having any contact with her daughter.
The child, placed in foster care, has since recovered and is thriving under the care of social services.
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