Long Island Housekeeper Pleads Not Guilty To Killing Newborn

RIVERHEAD, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A Long Island live-in housekeeper has pleaded not guilty to an indictment charging her with murder in the death of her newborn.

Santos Elena Ruiz Solano was ordered held without bail Wednesday. She was indicted on both intentional murder and depraved indifference murder counts by a Suffolk County grand jury.

Solano, 26, was arrested last month after prosecutors say she gave birth in her employer's West Islip bathroom. They say she killed the newborn, put her in a bag and asked her unknowing husband to throw the bag away. The newborn was recovered from a garbage can and given to hospital personnel, who called police.

An autopsy indicates the baby was born alive and suffered blunt impact injuries.

Her attorney did not return a telephone call Wednesday. He has previously said the child was stillborn.

Prosecutors say the defendant entered the country illegally from Honduras. Her husband told WCBS 880's Sophia Hall last month that was raped as she traveled to the U.S. from Honduras.

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