Philadelphia woman faces charges after 4-month-old baby discovered dead in trash bag inside bassinet under her supervision.
A Philadelphia woman has been charged with desecration of human remains following the discovery of a deceased infant in her care. The baby’s body was found in a trash bag, concealed within a bassinet on May 19, according to police reports.
Ebony Gee, 43, had been entrusted with the care of the four-month-old infant since April at a residence on the 1200 block of Lakeshore Drive in Camden. During this period, Gee reportedly prevented the baby’s parents and her partner from having any contact with the child. Investigations reveal that her partner, whose identity has not been disclosed, informed authorities that the infant was secluded in a bedroom on the second floor and that no one was permitted entry.
The parents of the child attempted multiple times to contact Gee to arrange for visits and even engaged child welfare officials in hopes of resolving the situation. However, Gee did not respond to their messages and cited scheduling issues when she communicated with them, as outlined in the affidavit of probable cause associated with her arrest. Questions remain regarding why the parents sought Gee’s help and why they subsequently requested intervention from child welfare authorities.
While the child was under her care, Gee’s partner reported a concerning lack of visible care practices, noting that she never witnessed Gee feeding, changing, or bathing the baby. As concerns grew, a foul odor began to permeate the home, which led the partner to purchase carpet cleaning supplies on Gee’s request.
The tragic circumstances surrounding the case escalated when Gee’s partner entered the bedroom on May 19 and discovered the baby’s lifeless body. The child’s remains showed signs of decomposition, complicating efforts by medical examiners to ascertain the cause and manner of death. Subsequent DNA testing confirmed the identity of the infant on July 10, enabling authorities to reach out to the child’s biological parents, who resided in Philadelphia.
Gee was arrested in Philadelphia on a Friday and is currently incarcerated at the Riverside Correctional Facility. She awaits extradition to New Jersey, where she will face charges related to this grave incident. Authorities have urged anyone with relevant information to contact Detective Matthew Kreidler of the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Unit at 856-930-5355.
The case highlights significant concerns regarding child welfare and the complexities surrounding parental rights and guardianship, raising questions about the systems in place meant to protect vulnerable children.
