A 28-year-old mother from Nevada has been arrested after allegedly abandoning her newborn son in a dumpster earlier this month. The incident occurred on July 5, when Taylour Sierra Dickinson is accused of leaving her minutes-old baby in a garbage bag inside of a dumpster.
She reportedly claimed that she did this because she did not have the resources to care for the child.
The Shocking Discovery
Dickinson was taken into custody last week and has been charged with attempted murder and first-degree child abuse, neglect, or endangerment. According to the Washoe County District Attorney’s Office, the newborn was left in the dumpster in the early morning hours of July 5.
The child was discovered after a passerby heard the newborn crying and immediately contacted authorities. Thanks to the quick response of the citizen, the baby was rescued and is reported to be healthy and doing well.
“This case has deeply affected our community and our Office,” said Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam. “We are grateful for the brave citizen who intervened – truly a hero whose actions saved this baby’s life.” He also praised the work of detectives who identified and arrested the individual responsible for the harm caused to the child.
Dickinson’s Explanation and Arrest
During Dickinson’s bond hearing, more details about the case were revealed. Investigators learned that the baby was believed to have been born around 2:30 a.m. on July 5 and was placed in the dumpster about an hour later, at 3:33 a.m.
Washoe County Sheriff’s Detective Claire Hoops-Adams testified that video surveillance footage from the area showed Dickinson placing the garbage bag in the dumpster.
Dickinson reportedly told detectives that she did not know she was pregnant until she gave birth to the baby in a bathroom. She claimed to have used a towel to retrieve the baby from the toilet and wrapped him completely in the towel before placing him in the garbage bag.
Dickinson allegedly said she was in a panic and thought abandoning the baby in the dumpster was her best option.
During the hearing, it was also revealed that Dickinson had two other children, aged 4 and 10. She allegedly said she did not want any more children, mentioning that her family was struggling financially and living paycheck to paycheck at the time. She reportedly hoped that someone would find the baby and help him.
A Troubling History
Prosecutors also brought up a previous incident from 2023, in which Dickinson allegedly left another child in a dumpster. She claimed at the time that she had suffered a miscarriage, but the baby was found in a dumpster at a different apartment complex.
However, authorities did not file charges in that case due to insufficient evidence, and the baby did not survive.
Legal Proceedings and Bond Hearing
Dickinson is currently being held at the Washoe County Jail on a $1 million cash-only bond. Her bond hearing revealed the details of both the current and previous incidents. The 28-year-old mother is scheduled to appear in court again on July 23, 2025.
The case has shocked the community, raising questions about the pressures and challenges many mothers face in difficult circumstances. The quick action of the passerby who saved the child has brought hope and relief, while authorities work toward ensuring justice for the newborn and his family.
Dickinson’s legal journey is just beginning, with serious charges hanging over her head.
