SPECIAL REPORT: How Baby Sonny impacted the Yuma community
Manoah Tuiasosopo
Reporter Manoah Tuiasosopo shares how Baby Sonny’s short life impacted the community and a movement to make sure it never happens again.
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – A tragedy that shocked the community: A newborn baby found in a trash can at a hotel in Yuma.
On the morning of May 1, a routine task turned tragic when an employee at the Best Western Hotel in Yuma discovered something suspicious while taking out the trash. Inside, a garbage bag with the body of a newborn baby.
First responders arrived quickly, but despite their best efforts, it was too late.
“Our crews arrived that day. They did locate this baby in the trash receptacle. They immediately grabbed that baby out, opened up that bag and began performing life saving techniques…It was shortly discovered after that they were going to be unsuccessful in reviving Baby Sonny,” said Captain David Padilla, Public Information Officer with the Yuma Fire Department (YFD).
The heartbreaking discovery sent shockwaves through the community and made headlines across Arizona.
Though responding to crises is part of the job, Captain Padilla says this call left a deep emotional impact on first responders. Many of whom had to move on to the next emergency without a moment to process.
“Behind every headline, there are real-world men and women that are experiencing these calls with the community and often times, they’re going to run a call like Baby Sonny’s call then get back on the fire truck and ambulance and do it again for a different call, show up to help grandma get up off the ground,” Padilla expressed.
In the aftermath, YFD reintroduced its Chaplain Program and expanded its peer support services to help staff cope.
With no one stepping forward and few answers, community leaders held a public prayer service in Baby Sonny’s honor.
Yuma Mayor Doug Nicholls said the city felt it was crucial to acknowledge the young life lost.
“We felt it was really important to make a statement. Bad news travels really fast. We took it on our own, and not having anyone to connect to, we kind of adopted Baby Sonny as our own,” Mayor Nicholls explained.
Nicholls says the response to the event was widespread and heartfelt adding, “The thing that amazed me the most, it wasn’t the response from the community because I fully expect that out of Yuma, it was how wide that spread. I’ve been getting comments from people throughout the state that saw the news piece on it. I think really shows how Yuma really wants to protect and honor life and it was more than just the tragedy, it was the reaction the community had was also part of the story.”
As for his name, officers chose “Baby Sonny” to offer the little one some dignity and because the discovery happened on a sunny Yuma day.
“Not having really other name and not wanting to call him baby John Doe, Baby Sonny became the way they could refer to him and honor him as a little person,” Nicholls spoke.
In all 50 states, the Safe Haven Law allows parents to safely and anonymously surrender unharmed newborns to designated locations such as fire stations, police departments, hospitals, or designated churches without facing criminal charges for abandonment.
“There are plenty of options regardless of the circumstances. I guess that’s the thing that’s really important to emphasize is that we don’t know the circumstances surrounding Baby Sonny, we don’t know what happened, but I am thankful that we live in a community that values life and responded the way we did.”
Tori Bourguignon, Executive Director, Amberly’s Place.
Amberly’s Place is a local nonprofit supporting survivors of child abuse, domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking.
Bourguignon says Amberly’s Place, the City of Yuma, and Onvida Health are partnering for a collaborative effort to raise awareness of safe havens and educate the public of local resources in hopes to prevent future tragedies.
“I think until Baby Sonny, you didn’t hear a lot about safe havens in our community, in particular. Now that we have this situation, I think we need to raise the awareness of what the options are and do our level best to prevent this from happening again, and be able to people options regardless of their circumstances.
Hotel management says they are working with the Yuma Police Department (YPD).
YPD says the investigation is still ongoing and continue to urge Baby Sonny’s mother, or anyone with information, to come forward.
Baby Sonny’s final resting place surrounds him with many young lives lost at a very similar in age. The only difference is the baby doesn’t have a family name.
Despite that, Baby Sonny will forever belong to the entire Yuma community.