Woman accused of burying newborn in back yard could face civil fine

ROCK HILL, S.C. — Tara Ostrowski, 37, is in jail after police said she admitted to burying her dead newborn boy in her back yard on May 18.

On Thursday, authorities told Channel 9 that Ostrowski could be forced to pay a civil fine after police said she buried her newborn in her back yard.

Authorities are debating whether she will have to pay a fine.

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The coroner ruled the baby's death a homicide, but police don't know exactly the cause.

Rock Hill police received an anonymous tip and confronted Ostrowski eight days after she allegedly buried the infant.

She took officers to the child's body and they found him in a metal box.

"She basically took us to a location in the backyard where you could tell there was a mound of fresh earth," Police Capt. Allmon said.

Police recovered the body and sent it for autopsy. Those test results came back last week, and showed methamphetamine and prescription strength painkillers in the child's system.

Ostrowski is charged with unlawful conduct toward a child and faces up to 10 years in prison. An autopsy showed no trauma to the child's body.

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Police said Ostrowski had hidden the pregnancy from her husband and family, and neighbors were shocked as well.

Betty Jenkins often stopped to talk to her as she walked the neighborhood.

"It's terrible. I didn't even know she was pregnant," she said. "Such a sad situation."

According to the arrest warrant, Ostrowski smoked meth and took hydrocodone during her pregnancy.

She told police the baby boy lived six to eight minutes after birth, had labored breathing, then stopped breathing.

"She got scared, and said she buried the baby," Allmon said.

Jenkins, a retired nurse, said after learning what happened, she talked to Ostrowski again and asked her why she didn't seek help.

"She started crying and wouldn't talk about it anymore. I would have taken her to the emergency room. I would have taken her to the doctor and gotten her some help," Jenkins said.

Family members who asked not to be identified told Channel 9 they also didn't know she was pregnant. They said she'd had a troubled life, but can't understand why she didn't call 911 when her baby was born.

Rock Hill police are still investigating and said Ostrowski could face more charges.

She was denied bond Wednesday morning.

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