Las Cruces woman charged after newborn discarded in portable toilet

Sonia Cristal Jimenez faces felony charge of intentional child abuse resulting in death

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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A 38-year-old Las Cruces woman has been arrested and charged with intentional child abuse resulting in death after police say she gave birth to a baby girl in a portable toilet at Burn Lake, cut the umbilical cord, and placed the newborn in the holding tank, where the child drowned.

Why it matters

This tragic incident has raised concerns about mental health resources, postpartum support, and the need for safe haven laws that allow mothers in crisis to surrender newborns without fear of prosecution.

The details

According to police, Sonia Cristal Jimenez arrived at Memorial Medical Center on February 7th without the newborn. Her boyfriend, who had driven her to the hospital, said they had previously been at Burn Lake, where Jimenez had used a portable toilet. Officers responding to Burn Lake found the baby girl's body in the holding tank of the portable toilet. An autopsy confirmed the baby was alive when placed in the tank and died from drowning after ingesting the blue chemical liquid used for sanitation.

  • On February 7th, Jimenez arrived at the hospital without the newborn.
  • On February 7th, police responded to Burn Lake and found the baby's body in the portable toilet.
  • On February 13th, an autopsy confirmed the baby was alive when placed in the tank and died from drowning.

The players

Sonia Cristal Jimenez

A 38-year-old Las Cruces woman who has been charged with one felony count of intentional child abuse resulting in death.

Memorial Medical Center

The hospital where Jimenez arrived without the newborn.

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What’s next

Jimenez is being held without bond at the Dona Ana County Detention Center. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are working to determine if any additional charges may be filed.

The takeaway

This heartbreaking case highlights the critical need for improved access to mental health services, postpartum support, and safe haven laws to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future. It underscores the importance of community-wide efforts to ensure vulnerable mothers and newborns receive the care and resources they need.