Born in December 2003 in Hobbs, New Mexico, Alexis Avila came from a Latino family who had immigrated to the United States in search of better opportunities. Little is known about Alexis’s early life, but as she grew up, she attended Hobbs High School, where she met Stephen Astorga, a boy just a year younger than her. The two started a relationship that initially seemed typical of high school romances.
Alexis Avila
In June 2021, the relationship between Alexis Avila and Stephen turned violent when Stephen struck her during an argument. Outraged, Alexis’s parents immediately prohibited her from seeing him again. However, despite their parents’ disapproval, the couple secretly continued their relationship for a short period before finally breaking up in August. After the breakup, they both moved on, but things began to change for Alexis.
Following the breakup, Alexis Avila started showing signs of anxiety. She began eating at odd hours and experienced frequent mood swings, but no one around her suspected anything serious. By December 17, 2021, Alexis mysteriously stopped attending school without giving any explanation, raising concerns among her peers. Nevertheless, by early January, she appeared to be getting back to her normal routine, though she often mentioned persistent back pain.
On the evening of January 7, 2022, a chilling event unfolded in Hobbs. At 7:45 PM, local police received an alarming call reporting the discovery of a newborn baby in a dumpster behind a shopping center. The caller, part of a group scavenging the area, initially mistook the infant’s faint cries for those of a puppy. When they opened the trash bag, they found a newborn wrapped in a wet towel, with its umbilical cord still attached. The baby was cold to the touch and barely breathing.
The newborn was rushed to a specialized neonatal care unit in Texas. Due to severe hypothermia, his body temperature was so low that standard thermometers couldn’t register it. Medical staff worked tirelessly, using warming blankets, performing a blood transfusion, and administering oxygen. Despite the odds, the baby was stabilized and survived the ordeal.
The Investigation Begins
As the medical team focused on saving the baby, the Hobbs police launched an investigation. The people who found the infant explained that they regularly searched dumpsters for discarded valuables. Upon hearing the cries, they rescued the baby and immediately called 911. Police reviewed security footage from a nearby shop, which showed a woman in a white car tossing a black bag into the dumpster around 2 PM. That bag had contained the baby, and he had been in the dumpster for almost six hours before being discovered.
The car’s license plate, visible in the footage, was traced to the Avila family. When police arrived at their home, Alexis’s parents were shocked by the news. They couldn’t believe their daughter had abandoned a newborn and claimed they had no knowledge of her pregnancy. After being shown the security footage, they confirmed that the woman in the video was Alexis Avila.
Alexis’s Confession
A short while later, Alexis Avila arrived at the police station with her parents and confessed to abandoning the baby. She explained that she had been experiencing severe abdominal and back pain, which she believed were lingering effects from a previous car accident. Although she visited the hospital on January 4, 2022, doctors did not diagnose her pregnancy, only prescribing her pain medication. A follow-up visit on January 6 confirmed her pregnancy through a urine test, shocking Alexis, who claimed she had no prior knowledge of being pregnant.
In her confession, Alexis Avila mentioned that in August 2021, she had taken two pregnancy tests—one positive and the other negative. She chose to believe the negative result, as her periods continued normally, and she assumed her weight gain was unrelated to pregnancy. Upon learning she was pregnant, Alexis panicked, leading to the tragic series of events that unfolded on January 7, 2022.
Alexis Avila recounted how she lost consciousness during childbirth and, upon waking, cut the umbilical cord herself. She wrapped the newborn in a towel, placed him in a plastic bag, and tidied up the bathroom. Afterward, she got into her car and drove for a while before ultimately deciding to leave the baby in a dumpster. When detectives asked her what she thought would happen to the baby, Alexis Avila remained silent. Her response to how she felt while placing the baby in the dumpster was startling—she laughed and attributed her actions to her young age and lack of experience.
Midway through the police interview, Alexis Avila suddenly asked if the baby was okay. It was the first moment during the interrogation where she displayed any emotion, releasing a deep sigh. She explained that the baby’s father was a boy she had dated until their breakup in August 2021.
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Evidence Found and Family Shock
While the interrogation took place, police searched Alexis’s home and car. Inside her room and bathroom, they found clothing and towels with bloodstains, as well as red smears in multiple places, solidifying her connection to the abandoned baby. Her confession and the evidence left Alexis’s parents in disbelief. They admitted that she had been complaining of stomach pain, but they were unaware that it was due to pregnancy.
After her statement to the police, Alexis Avila was arrested and charged with attempted murder and child abuse. However, when she appeared in court, she pleaded not guilty to all charges. The judge set her bail at $10,000, with the condition that she remain under house arrest while awaiting trial.
The story quickly captured the media’s attention, with images of Alexis Avila near the dumpster circulating widely. Outrage spread through the community, with many demanding a harsh punishment for her. In response, Alexis’s mother made a public plea for understanding, asking the public not to rush to judgment. She explained that anyone could make mistakes, though the family chose not to share further details with the media.
As media investigations intensified, discrepancies in Alexis’s account came to light. Some of her friends and classmates recalled that Alexis had spoken about being pregnant in September or October 2021. Another acquaintance claimed Alexis Avila had known since April 2021 but didn’t want to keep the baby. Further complicating matters, a prominent news outlet released 911 call recordings from the Avila household. These recordings revealed that Alexis and her mother had been aware of her pregnancy earlier than they had claimed.
The 911 Call Revelation
A key piece of evidence surfaced in a 911 call from June 12, 2021, in which Alexis Avila and her mother requested police assistance at their home. During the call, Alexis could be heard saying she had been assaulted, while her mother explained to the operator that her daughter had been at a party where her boyfriend, Stephen, had hit her. Notably, during this call, Stephen was also heard stating that Alexis had just told him she was pregnant, a revelation that contributed to their argument and altercation. This call was a significant discovery, as it contradicted Alexis’s claim of ignorance about her pregnancy and exposed the troubled nature of her relationship with Stephen.
When questioned by the police, Stephen admitted that he had known about the pregnancy. However, after their breakup in August 2021, Alexis Avila informed him that she had suffered a miscarriage. His father supported this claim, showing messages between Stephen and a friend in which they discussed what they believed was a lost pregnancy.
Custody Battle for Baby Saúl
While Alexis Avila faced legal consequences, Stephen’s family stepped forward to claim custody of the baby, who was still recovering in a Texas hospital. Stephen’s father, a business owner in the local oil and gas industry, expressed his desire to raise the child, whom they planned to name Saúl.
The case of Alexis Avila ignited a national debate on the state’s Safe Haven laws, which allow parents to surrender babies under 90 days old at designated safe locations, such as fire stations or hospitals, without facing criminal charges. The law was created as an alternative for mothers like Alexis Avila, giving them a safe and legal option. Following the public outcry over the case, New Mexico legislators took swift action. In 2022, they passed a bill to expand the Safe Haven program and allocated funds for the installation of “Baby Boxes.” These secure and anonymous drop-off devices provide a way for newborns to be safely surrendered without any legal consequences for the parent.
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The Trial Begins
In April 2023, the long-awaited trial of Alexis Ávila, now 19, began in a New Mexico courtroom. Her defense team argued that her actions were not premeditated but were the result of an untreated mental health condition. They claimed that Alexis Avila was suffering from bipolar disorder at the time, which severely impacted her decision-making. A psychiatrist, who had thoroughly assessed Alexis and her family, testified on her behalf. The psychiatrist pointed out that Alexis had moderate attention deficit issues, struggled to communicate, and was in denial about her pregnancy—symptoms she linked to her bipolar disorder. The psychiatrist also noted that hormonal changes during pregnancy likely worsened Alexis’s mood disorder.
The prosecution presented a series of witnesses, starting with the doctor who treated the baby at the Texas hospital. The doctor testified about the fragile state in which the newborn had arrived, emphasizing that it was nearly miraculous the baby survived. A neonatologist also testified, discussing the baby’s transition from a feeding tube to regular feeding and revealed that the child had tested positive for opioids, possibly from pain medication Alexis Avila had been taking.
The lead detective from the Hobbs Police Department took the stand and highlighted discrepancies in Alexis’s story. While Alexis Avila claimed she only found out about the pregnancy the day before giving birth, the detective presented evidence suggesting she had known since June 2021. He also suggested that Alexis’s parents were likely aware or suspected the pregnancy.
Stephen, the father of the baby, also testified. He confirmed that he knew about the pregnancy but believed Alexis Avila had miscarried after their breakup in August 2021. He recalled meeting his son, Saúl, for the first time about a week after his birth, describing him as a strong and beautiful baby, though Saúl was receiving treatment for asthma and a potential heart murmur.
In one of the most anticipated moments of the trial, Alexis Avila took the stand. She recounted the events leading up to the baby’s birth, explaining that she had been bedridden with back pain and unexpectedly gave birth in the bathroom. Alexis claimed her memory of the event was hazy; she couldn’t recall whether the baby was on the floor or in the toilet and her next clear memory was leaving the police station with her mother. She explained that it wasn’t until two months later, after receiving therapy, that she began to fully grasp the severity of her actions.
During cross-examination, Alexis confirmed that the plastic bag shown to her in court was the one she used and acknowledged that the baby was hers. However, she was unable to provide many details about the pregnancy, saying she didn’t remember much about taking the pregnancy test in August 2021.
Verdict and Sentencing
After the defense rested its case, they requested a direct verdict for the charge of child abuse resulting in serious bodily harm, which the judge denied. Following closing arguments, the jury deliberated for over two hours. On April 14, 2023, Alexis Avila was found guilty of child abuse resulting in injury and first-degree attempted murder.
During the sentencing, Stephen addressed Alexis directly. He shared that Saúl was a healthy, loving, and beautiful baby, and although he could never forget what Alexis had done, he was confident that Saúl would grow up to achieve great things. Alexis’s father also testified, pleading with the judge for leniency and expressing his hope that he would one day meet his grandson. Meanwhile, Alexis’s mother asked the court to consider her daughter’s mental health issues, insisting that Alexis would never have acted this way if she had been in her right mind.
When it was her turn to speak, Alexis apologized to her son and her family. She expressed deep regret for her actions, particularly for depriving Saúl of the chance to know his maternal grandparents, who loved him dearly. Alexis voiced her fear that Saúl would grow up believing she didn’t love him, but she reassured everyone that she loved her son deeply. The defense requested the lightest possible sentence, citing Alexis’s age, her mental health condition, her clean criminal record, and her cooperation throughout the legal proceedings.
During the sentencing phase, the prosecution argued that Alexis Ávila showed no genuine remorse for her actions until after being found guilty. The prosecutor stressed that Alexis had not only abandoned her baby but had actively tried to take his life. The severity of the case, they claimed, warranted a harsh sentence, given the potential fatal consequences of her actions.
On May 1, 2023, the court sentenced Alexis Avila to 18 years in prison, followed by two years of probation. However, in light of her mental health struggles and young age, the judge reduced her sentence to 16 years, with the possibility of probation. The court also mandated that Alexis receive ongoing mental health treatment, including medication, and continue her education while incarcerated.
When delivering the sentence, the judge made it clear that Alexis had been fortunate. Had it not been for sheer luck, and as the judge put it, “the grace of God,” the baby would likely have died from either hypothermia or suffocation, and Alexis would have been facing a murder charge. Alexis responded by expressing her desire to learn how to cope better with stress, anxiety, and her emotions. She also expressed deep sorrow over missing the early years of her son’s life and not being able to show him the maternal love he deserved.
For the Ávila family, the sentence was devastating, while Stephen’s family, including Saúl’s paternal grandparents, felt that it was too lenient given the gravity of what Alexis had done. Despite the mixed feelings, Alexis’s defense team remained focused on her rehabilitation. They noted that by the time she completed her sentence, Alexis would be 34 years old. They assured the court that she would have access to therapy and education during her incarceration, with the goal of reintegrating her into society.
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The Appeal
Shortly after the trial, Alexis’s attorney filed an appeal and, on May 5, 2023, requested her release while the appeal was pending. The initial request was denied. However, on October 18, 2023, the appellate court overturned that decision, ruling that Alexis Avila did not pose a flight risk. She was granted release under the same pretrial conditions, which included house arrest. Alexis was allowed to post a $10,000 bail, and she returned home under supervision.
As of October 2024, Alexis’s appeal was still pending, with no updates from the court. Meanwhile, Saúl, now 20 months old, continues to live with his father, Stephen, and paternal grandparents. It remains unclear whether the Ávila family has been able to establish any contact with him, as the emotional and legal battles surrounding the case continue to unfold.
