A Tennessee man faces multiple charges after allegedly impregnating a 16-year-old girl and discarding the newborn in a gas station dumpster following the birth.
FOX 14 Memphis reports that a grand jury indicted 45-year-old James Boothe Wednesday on charges of trafficking for commercial sex acts, promoting prostitution involving minors ages 12 to 18, continuous sexual abuse of a child, and aggravated statutory rape.
Memphis police launched an investigation around 9 a.m. on January 27 after responding to a call in the 3100 block of Teakrock Lane at the Flairwood Apartments. Officers arrived to find a 16-year-old girl who flagged them down and reported that a man named “James” had dropped her off after she gave birth about two hours earlier. Police later identified the man as Boothe.
The girl said that Boothe was taking her to the hospital while she was in labor when she gave birth to a girl. She claimed Boothe removed the newborn from the seat, placed her in a black plastic bag, and threw her in a dumpster behind a Shell gas station located at 1312 E. Shelby Drive. She also said that she had been in a “relationship” with Boothe for three years.
Police arrived at the gas station and located the deceased infant in a bag within the dumpster.
Authorities have not revealed the cause of death but the infant was believed to be dead at birth.
Security footage showed a man fitting Boothe’s description arriving in a dark Infiniti SUV, approaching the dumpster, and discarding a black plastic bag, according to the complaint. Investigators identified Boothe as the owner of an Infiniti QX5.
Shelby County Judge Sheila Renfroe dismissed the abuse of a corpse charge against Boothe, citing a “lack of prosecution,” according to court records, Actuone News 5 reports.
Although the charge was dismissed, officials said Boothe is still in custody and facing five other charges.
“Although the case was dismissed in General Sessions Court, this investigation is not over and Mr. Booth remains in custody,” a spokesperson for the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office said.
“Our office has indicted Mr. Booth on five additional charges based on evidence from this case and continues to review the abuse of a corpse allegation for potential indictment along with the additional charges. Keep in mind that when charges are dismissed in general sessions it does not preclude us from still pursuing an indictment and moving forward as more evidence becomes available,”
Check back for updates.
[Feature Photo via Memphis PD]
