Baker City Police car

A Baker County grand jury has indicted a Baker City woman on multiple felony charges in the death of a newborn baby found in her home in late December, including a crime that on conviction carries a mandatory minimum prison term of 75 months.

Angela Marie Croucher, 33, was arrested by Baker City Police on May 12 around 3 p.m., according to a press release.

Croucher was taken to the Baker County Jail. Her bail was set at $600,000 initially. Baker County Circuit Court Judge Matt Shirtcliff reduced the bail to $400,000 during Croucher’s arraignment Tuesday afternoon. She remains in the jail.

Croucher’s next court appearance, a status check hearing, is scheduled for June 2 at 9 a.m.

Public defender William Thomson was appointed to represent Croucher.

He declined to comment about the case in a phone interview on May 13.

Thomson filed a motion on May 15 in which he argues that the $400,000 bail is “unconstitutional.”

In his motion, Thomson wrote that “under Oregon law, the ability of the accused to actually pay the security amount must be considered when setting it.”

Thomson wrote that Croucher’s “financial means are insufficient to afford the $400,000/10% bail in this case as currently set.” The attorney wrote that Croucher estimates she has about $240 in cash, a vehicle worth about $500, and no other major assets that could be liquidated to raise the bail amount.

Thomson wrote in the motion that Croucher owns the home at 1912 17th St. where the baby’s body was found, but that the mortgage “is likely currently in arrears.”

In Lakeview Loan Servicing LLC filed a complaint in Baker County Circuit Court stating that Croucher was in default on a mortgage for the home recorded in October 2023. The complaint is seeking $133,000.

On April 13, Shirtcliff signed an order stating that Croucher is in default.

Thomson also submitted a memorandum in support of his motion to have the judge release Croucher from jail.

Thomson argued that Croucher doesn’t pose a threat to the community, noting that she has no criminal record.

“There is nothing in the alleged conduct of the Defendant that implies or suggests any danger exists for any member of the community,” Thomson wrote in the memo. “The allegations relate to the neglect and mistreatment of a newborn infant born of the Defendant. No rational connection exists between those alleged circumstances and any member of the community.

“While the allegations involve the loss of a human life, that loss is alleged through neglect, not intentional acts,” Thomson wrote. “The allegations are not those that describe predatory, malicious, or assaultive conduct.”

Thomson also contends that there is no risk that Croucher would flee if she was released.

“Defendant was aware of the likelihood of these pending charges for half a year, and has remained here in Baker City that entire time, making no effort to hide, flee, or avoid process,” he wrote in the memo.

Thomson wrote that Croucher has lived most of her life in Baker City and has strong ties to the community.

“Defendant attends mental health counselling at least weekly here in Baker City, sometimes more frequently than weekly.” Thomson wrote.

After a hearing on Thomson’s motion on Friday, May 16, in Baker County Circuit Court, Shirtcliff reduced Croucher’s bail to $185,000. The judge also ordered that if Croucher posts 10% of that amount, a hearing would be required before she would be released.

The charges

Baxter said he believes Croucher gave birth to the baby and that it was alive.

The charges are related to Croucher’s alleged negligence in failing to adequately care for her newborn.

Baxter said he could not discuss details about the case, including how long he believes the baby lived and the circumstances in which the baby’s body was found.

The grand jury indicted Croucher on multiple felonies, including second-degree manslaughter, a Measure 11 crime in Oregon that on conviction carries a mandatory minimum prison term of 75 months.

Croucher is also charged with criminally negligent homicide, first-degree criminal mistreatment, second-degree abuse of a corpse, and a misdemeanor charge of concealing the birth of an infant.

The secret indictment was unsealed on May 13.

Under count 1, the second-degree manslaughter charge, the indictment states that Croucher “did unlawfully and with criminal negligence, by neglect or maltreatment, cause the death of Baby Girl Croucher.”

Under count 2, the criminally negligent homicide charge, the indictment states that Croucher “did unlawfully, and with criminal negligence cause the death of Baby Girl Croucher.”

Under count 3, the second-degree abuse of a corpse charge, the indictment states that Croucher “did unlawfully and intentionally abuse, disinter, remove or carry away a corpse.”

Under count 4, the first-degree criminal mistreatment charge, the indictment states that Croucher, “in violation of a legal duty to provide care for Baby Girl Croucher, did unlawfully and knowingly withhold necessary and adequate medical attention from Baby Girl Croucher.”

Under count 5, the concealing birth of an infant charge, the indictment states that Croucher “did unlawfully and knowingly conceal the corpse of a newborn child with intent to conceal the fact of its birth.”

The Baker County Major Crimes Team investigated the case. The team consists of detectives and officers from Baker City Police, the Baker County Sheriff’s Office, Oregon State Police and the Baker County District Attorney’s office.

The body of the newborn baby was found Dec. 30 in Croucher’s home at 1912 17th St., between Broadway Street and Court Avenue.

The Baker County Dispatch Center reported a medical call at that address on Dec. 29 at 4:54 p.m. Pioneer Ambulance and the Baker City Fire Department responded. The report had no other information about the call.

Baxter said the amount of time between the baby’s body being found and the indictment — about 4 1 /2 months — reflects the “thorough investigation” that police did, including talking with witnesses and collecting evidence from the state crime lab.