A woman suspected of giving birth to a newborn who was found dead in the back of a pickup was arrested Thursday on suspicion of first-degree murder and child abuse.
“It’s shocking as all get-out,” said June Korb, who manages the Country Gardens Mobile Home Park near Strasburg with her family. “For something like this to happen, you just can’t believe it.”
Korb’s son, Greg, found the body about 7:30 p.m. Wednesday as he emptied the 1971 Chevrolet truck he had bought from a neighbor. The bed of the truck was filled with garbage.
Investigators with the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office arrested Christie Lee Cole, 23, after questioning her through the night.
Cole, who authorities said gave birth to a full-term, or near- full-term, child in October, is being held at the county jail without bail, Sheriff Grayson Robinson said.
Robinson said that Cole is the only suspect but that the case remains under investigation.
“This whole thing is obviously a tragedy,” Robinson said. “But it didn’t have to happen.”
Colorado law protects parents who drop off unwanted newborns at a hospital or fire station within 72 hours of birth. The “safe haven” law has been in effect since 2000.
Korb said her 15-year-old grandson was with his father, helping clean out the truck bed, when they found the remains inside a small box amid decaying leaves inside a garbage bag.
“It’s been a real trauma for him,” Korb said. “It’s not something pretty for a 15-year-old to see.”
Greg Korb declined to comment.
Korb said her son bought the truck from Cole’s boyfriend, Jim Wheatley, and it had been sitting idle in front of the couple’s trailer for months.
Cole and Wheatley have lived at the mobile home park since Jan. 1, 2005, Korb said.
It was common knowledge among residents that Cole had been pregnant, Korb said.
“We just thought she had a miscarriage or gave it up for adoption,” Korb said.
Cole is to appear in Arapahoe County District Court this morning. Cole’s 3-year-old child is in the care of the county’s human-services department.
Sheriff’s investigators conducted difficult interviews through the night after the gruesome find.
“We pride ourselves on being professional,” Robinson said. “The other side is – most of these people are moms and dads, and it’s very disturbing.”
Staff writer Kieran Nicholson can be reached at 303-820-1822 or knicholson@denverpost.com.
