A Mifflin County woman, Jordyn Kauffman, 20, faces charges of murder and abuse of a corpse after a newborn baby girl was found dead in a field. According to court documents, Pennsylvania State Police arrested Kauffman, of McVeytown, following a tip from a nurse at Lewistown Geisinger Hospital on May 15. The nurse reported a baby found in a garbage bag in a field.
Investigations revealed that Kauffman had missed several prenatal appointments and expressed to hospital staff in the fall of 2025 that she did not want the baby. After giving birth at home, she allegedly placed the newborn in the field. The criminal complaint states Kauffman admitted to knowing her actions were wrong but feared retaliation for her pregnancy.
The autopsy confirmed the baby was born alive. Police found the infant with bug bites and fly eggs on her body. The temperature on the day the baby was left outside ranged from 44 to 49 degrees with wind gusts up to 13 mph.
Kauffman was informed about the Safe Haven law and other resources by the hospital’s Manager of Police and Security Services when she was around 39 weeks pregnant. After her arrest, Kauffman was denied bail and is currently held in Mifflin County Prison. Her preliminary hearing is scheduled for Wednesday (May 27).
According to AOL News, Kauffman has been charged with multiple offenses, including first-degree murder and endangering the welfare of a child.