A woman was arrested after attempting to give birth in a bathroom stall at an IHOP in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and allegedly trying to flush the newborn down the toilet. Shaniqua D. Caldwell, 35, faces charges of concealing the birth of an infant.
At approximately 8 p.m. on May 29, 2024, officers from the Bowling Green Police Department and emergency medical services arrived at the IHOP located at 3200 Scottsville Road following multiple 911 calls about a woman bleeding in the bathroom. Initially, callers believed the woman had suffered a miscarriage, but one caller later saw a baby in the toilet and claimed the woman attempted to flush the newborn.
First responders confirmed the presence of a deceased infant in the bathroom. Witnesses described Caldwell leaving the restaurant on foot immediately after the incident. Officers located Caldwell at a nearby Red Roof Inn parking lot, where she refused medical treatment, denied being pregnant, and made several implausible claims, including that she had not had intercourse for six years and was related to Michael Jordan and Denzel Washington.
“Based on my interactions with Caldwell, I was concerned with her mental state,” an officer wrote in the affidavit. “I was also worried about her well-being when she refused medical treatment after apparently just giving birth.”
Caldwell was detained and taken to Bowling Green Hospital for an emergency mental health assessment. During interviews with police, Caldwell could not or would not provide personal identifying information, saying only that she was from New York and in town on business.
After being released from the hospital, Caldwell was processed and booked into the Warren County Detention Center, where she remains on a $2,500 bond. In Kentucky, the charge of concealing the birth of an infant is classified as a Class A misdemeanor, which carries a penalty of up to 12 months in jail and a maximum fine of $500.
However, authorities have indicated that additional charges may be forthcoming pending the outcome of the ongoing investigation into the infant’s death.
Several witnesses at the scene corroborated the initial reports. One witness said, “I saw her come out of the bathroom looking distressed and hurried. We were all in shock when we realized what had happened.” Another witness recounted the chaos, saying, “It was horrifying. I never thought I’d see something like that in my life.”
Police reports reveal that Caldwell was disturbed when found. “She was making no sense and refused any help we offered,” an officer recounted. Caldwell’s refusal to provide personal details has made the investigation more challenging for authorities, who continue to seek answers about the circumstances leading up to the incident.
As the investigation proceeds, the focus remains on determining whether the newborn was alive at birth. An autopsy is pending, which will provide critical information on the cause and manner of death. Authorities are cautious in their approach, emphasizing the need for thoroughness in such a sensitive and complex case.