A woman has been arrested after a dead baby was discovered inside a hearse on Saturday, August 9, at the West Gadsden Funeral Home.
Gadsden Police say their patrol division immediately secured the scene upon arrival.
Police are investigating this as a homicide. The baby wasn’t in a casket. The baby, Blessence Pearl, was one year old, according to authorities.
Dantez Robinson, the funeral home’s owner, claims employees were returning from a separate call when someone believed they saw a doll in the hearse, but when they opened the door, they discovered it was a human baby.
“I got a call from one of my employees. They was getting ready last night we went out on a pickup and this morning we get back. He was getting ready to do some grounds work, and we get back to found an infant baby inside one of the hearses.”
Terica Pearl, Blessence’s mother, was arrested by Gadsden Police and transported to the James Hayes Etowah County Detention Center around 1:30 a.m. Sunday, August 10.
“In under 12 hours, the investigation moved from uncertainty to an arrest,” wrote Lieutenant Dusty Ford with the Gadsden Police Department.
“This was a tough case for everybody involved,” said Mayor Craig Ford. “I’m proud of the way our police department went after the truth and got it done. An arrest doesn’t take away the hurt, but it does mean we’re one step closer to justice for this child.”
Pearl is being jailed on a murder charge in the Etowah County Jail without bond.
At this point, Gadsden Police say they will not release the child’s name out of respect for the family.
According to the Gadsden Police, this matter will now proceed through the judicial system.
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