Prosecutors: Wheaton mom hid pregnancy, dumped baby in dirt
The Wheaton woman accused of abandoning her newborn son after giving birth outside her apartment hid the pregnancy from relatives and later told police she felt no "emotional connection" to the infant.
Prosecutors made those allegations Monday as Nunu Sung was ordered held on a $100,000 bond during her first DuPage County court appearance.
The 24-year-old native of war-torn Myanmar - formerly Burma - is charged with two counts of obstructing justice and misdemeanor endangering the life of a child. She faces up to three years in prison if convicted.
Sung, assisted by an interpreter, appeared tired but was otherwise unemotional.
Prosecutor Brian Perkins said Sung came from Texas in February to live her with her married female cousin in Wheaton. She concealed her pregnancy, Perkins said, and never received prenatal care.
The police investigation began about 1:45 a.m. Friday when her cousin reported Sung failed to return home after leaving their Crescent Street apartment for a walk more than two hours earlier.
Police immediately began a search. Officers found Sung safe at home, tidying herself up in a bathroom, about 6 a.m. when they returned to the apartment to see if their police dog could get her scent from clothing.
Then, at 7:45 a.m. Friday, police returned to the neighborhood when nearby resident Joe Logan went outside with his dog to retrieve his newspaper and found a nude 5-pound baby under a bush and dirt near his home on Michigan Avenue. The infant's umbilical cord still was attached. Logan said his wife wrapped the baby in a towel and he called 911.
On Monday, the child's condition improved to fair, meaning he is conscious and his vital signs are stable, in Central DuPage Hospital's neonatal intensive care unit in Winfield.
"He is thriving," said Amy Jo Steinbruecker, a hospital spokeswoman. "He's doing quite well. He's very cute. The nurses absolutely adore him."
Perkins said Sung initially lied to police. Later, Perkins said, she admitted giving birth behind a garage adjacent her apartment complex near where the newborn boy was found.
"She stated throughout the pregnancy she had no emotional connection with the child," Perkins said. "When she had the baby, she placed him under a bush and appeared to cover the baby under dirt. She then left the baby under the bush and returned home and did not tell anybody she had given birth.
"She admitted she knew if the baby died she would be responsible and that what she did was wrong."
Police arrested Sung Sunday after she was released from the hospital. She is single and has no other children.
Prosecutors are seeking her mental evaluation. They also will ask a DuPage County judge today to terminate Sung's parental rights. If so, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services will try to place the little boy with Sung's family or find a foster home. Several people already have reached out seeking to help him, officials said.
"In cases like this, when babies are abandoned, DCFS always gets a number of calls," said Jimmie Whitelow, an agency spokesman. "It pulls at the heart strings of the public and people want to step up and offer to be an adoptive parent."
Authorities still are investigating Sung's immigration status and when she arrived in the United States. Her relatives declined to comment Monday. It's unclear if they will try to adopt the baby.
Wheaton-based World Relief was not involved in Sung's resettlement, but the organization did assist her relatives, said Andrea Kaufmann, an agency spokeswoman.
"World Relief is grieved by the news of this mother and child and is working to support the family members at this time," she said. "Case management staff has been working to provide support to the extended family over the weekend and will continue to in the difficult days ahead."
DuPage Associate Judge Peter Ostling set the $100,000 bond. Sung is not expected to raise the required $10,300 bail for her release. If she does, Ostling barred her from having contact with the infant or other minors.
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