Accused baby killer did ‘how to’ search

PHOENIX — A 19-year-old woman accused of drowning her month-old son in a bathtub did more than 100 online searches for ways to kill an infant, police in a Phoenix suburb said Thursday.

Jenna Folwell put her son’s body in two blankets in a duffel bag in their apartment before calling police from a park Wednesday to report that a male stranger had abducted the infant after threatening to kill her, Chandler police said.

When investigating officers found the dead child in the apartment, Folwell said she’d found the infant face down in the bathtub after she passed out or fainted, police said in a probable cause statement.

Police obtained a search warrant for Folwell’s phone.

“The search history started with ‘ways to die instantly’ and ended with ‘missing babies cases,’” the statement said. “Other searched items included how long it takes babies to drown, … reasons parents kill their babies and sudden infant death syndrome.

Confronted about the searches, Folwell acknowledged them and “getting in the bathtub with her son and then letting him go,” the statement said. “Jenna said … did not want to hear her son cry.”

Folwell remained jailed on suspicion of first-degree murder after an initial court appearance Thursday. A judge set bail at $1 million. Court records don’t list a defense attorney.

The statement says Folwell told investigators she regretted her decision after her son was in the tub for about a minute and attempted CPR before putting his body in the duffel bag and going to the park.

A police spokesman did not immediately respond to an email asking about a possible motive.