On January 27, 2023, 19-year-old Alexee Trevizo arrived at Artesia General Hospital in New Mexico complaining of back pain, concealing the fact that she was pregnant and actively in labor. She went to a bathroom, locked herself inside for approximately 18 minutes, and secretly gave birth to a baby boy. She then placed the newborn in a trash bag in the bathroom trashcan and returned to her hospital room. A cleaning crew member later discovered the baby's body in the trash. Trevizo initially claimed the baby was stillborn, but an autopsy by the New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator determined the baby — posthumously named Alex Ray Fierro — had been breathing outside the womb, with evidence of hemorrhage consistent with hypoxia, and the manner of death was ruled homicide. Trevizo was charged with first-degree murder and tampering with evidence.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?
Is there any mention of a firearm incident?
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
The baby was placed in a tied trash bag, which led to asphyxiation. Document 2 (People) states the autopsy found "air in his lungs and that there was evidence of a hemorrhage consistent with hypoxia." The manner of death was ruled homicide. The act of placing a breathing newborn in a sealed trash bag caused oxygen deprivation (hypoxia), which is analogous to suffocation/choking — a form of inflicted injury.
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
Is there any mention of a motor vehicle crash or incident?
Is there any mention of a murder-suicide incident?
Is there any mention of outdoor elements (including hot car deaths)?
Is there any mention of prenatal substance exposure (including fetal alcohol syndrome or neonatal abstinence syndrome)?
Document 2 (People) states that the wrongful death complaint alleges the doctor "ordered medications that, the complaint alleges, 'have warnings regarding use if the patient is pregnant.'" Document 3 (People) reports that hospital staff was "giving her some morphine for her pain as they waited for her results." Since Trevizo was pregnant at the time and the baby was in utero, these medications (including morphine) would constitute prenatal substance exposure.
Is there any mention of sexual abuse?
Is there any specific mention of shaken baby or abusive head trauma?
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
Alexee Trevizo is the biological mother of the newborn. All three documents establish that she gave birth to the baby and placed it in the trash. Document 1 (NY Post) states she was "charged last month with first-degree murder" and Document 2 (People) states she allegedly said, "I'm sorry, it came out of me, I didn't know what to do."
Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?
Was a female paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., girlfriend, stepmother)?
Was a foster parent involved in the death?
Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?
Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)
Was a sibling involved in the death?
Child Characteristics
Was the child adopted?
Was the child homeschooled (including "cyberschooling") or taken out of school?
Was the child in foster care at the time of the incident?
Was the child living with relatives at the time of the incident (but not parents)?
Is there any mention of a neurological developmental child disability? (e.g., autism, intellectual disability, nonverbal)
Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)
Is there any mention of prematurity or low birthweight?
Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?
Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?
Is there a history of a sibling death (separate incident from this death)?
Parent/Caregiver Factors
Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?
Document 3 (People) states: "She was arrested on May 10, 2023, and charged with first-degree murder." Document 1 (NY Post) states Trevizo "was charged last month with first-degree murder, or alternatively abusing a child resulting in death, and tampering with evidence."
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?
Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Notable Details
Several notable legal and systemic details emerge from the documents. Document 3 (People) reports that the New Mexico Fifth Judicial District Court ruled that "all comments made by Trevizo while in her hospital bed, along with surveillance video showing her inside the hospital and any body camera footage captured by police, would not be admissible in court as it was protected under doctor-client privilege," effectively destroying the prosecution's case. The state challenged this ruling at the New Mexico Supreme Court, arguing the conversations occurred in the presence of law enforcement and that Trevizo "waived any privilege when she made statements in the presence of her mother and law enforcement agents." Additionally, Document 2 (People) describes an unusual legal maneuver in which Trevizo's own defense lawyer "filed a wrongful death complaint in civil court on behalf of the deceased baby's estate, seeking damages from the hospital," alleging the hospital gave medications contraindicated for pregnancy. The case raises significant questions about the scope of doctor-patient privilege in criminal proceedings and its potential implications for prosecuting crimes that occur in medical settings.
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