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New Information: How Baby Zariel Died

By Jessica Taloney Reporter

The Prichard mother accused of killing her 4 week old baby returned to court. During today's preliminary hearing, News 5 learned what Tyese Lewis said in her taped confession, including how the baby died. New Information: How Baby Zariel Died

Published: Thu, August 23, 2007 - 11:12 am Last Updated: Thu, August 23, 2007 - 5:55 pm

Jessica Taloney

A Prichard teenager accused of killing her 4 week old baby laughs as she walks into a courtroom for Thursday's preliminary hearing. While shackled to another inmate, 18 year old Tyese Lewis addressed a News Five camera saying, "I know it. I'm a celebrity." Officers attempted to quiet Lewis but she continued saying, "Let me speak to the camera. How y'all doing? I'm doing alright."
Lewis has been in jail since July 27th, when police say she confessed to killing her baby, Zarial Lewis Farris. During the hearing, investigators revealed for the first time details about that confession.
According to police, in her confession, Lewis said she didn't know what to do when baby Zarial kept crying, so she put her in a plastic bag and then put the infant in a bedroom closet.
More than 30 minutes later, police say Lewis went to check on the baby, but she wasn't breathing. That's when police say she put Zarial in a kitchen trash bag, then in a trash can at her home in Prichard.
Investigators believe the infant is somewhere in an Escambia County landfill near Brewton, but a search by police and FBI agents turned up nothing. The Allied Waste landfill is the largest dump in Alabama.
While Lewis' attorney, Art Powell, told News Five he thinks prosecutors will not be able to prove their case without finding the body, the judge who hear Thursday's testimony decided there was enough evidence to let a Grand Jury hear the case.
Lewis' bond was set last month at $100,000, but she is still in jail. Lewis' mother told News Five she doesn't know if her family will help Lewis get out.

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WKRG.com Related Resources

» Baby Zarial Memorial (August 13)

» Grandmother plans for memorial (August…

» Tyese Lewis Arraignment (August 1)

» Landfill Search Suspended (July 30)

» Baby's Mom in Court (July 30)

» Police Search Landfill (July 29)

» Baby's Mother Arrested (July 27)

» FBI Announces Reward (July 27)

» Baby's Mom Pleads for Help (July 26)…

» Missing Baby

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southernpride7 Says:

Thu, Aug 23, 2007 at 3:16 pm

To both of the people that responded to me putting my daughter on the shot at 14. Do you have teenage daughters? I was 17 and stupid when I first had her. We have done been over on everything that she can catch. My daughter is not stupid to the fact of getting an STD,but I also am not stupid to the fact that I don’t think she will go out and have unprotected sex with someone,but me as a parent and wanting better for my daughter I will make her take the shot. I have looked up the different birth controls and every birth control has a side effect. None of them are really what I would call safe.

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Ashley Says:

Thu, Aug 23, 2007 at 2:12 pm

I do not agree with the woman who is going to put her 14 year old daughter on the birth control shot. At 14 you could cause female problems where she can never have children. I know someone that took the shot at 18 and tried for 7 years before they got pregnant. You need to research this before you make a decesion that could effect her for the rest of her life.

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bamagirl07 Says:

Thu, Aug 23, 2007 at 1:50 pm

I don’t think the mother is to blame in this situation. And I also don’t think that putting your child on birth control is the answer either. Putting your child on birth control just tells them that you as a parent is ok with them going out and sleeping with anybody. If you have a trouble teen who you are afraid they may go out and have sex then yes put them on birth control. But you also have to let them know that just because they are on birth control doesn’t mean they are completely protected. They can still get STD’s that they will have to live with for the rest of her life.

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Irvingtonmom4 Says:

Thu, Aug 23, 2007 at 1:37 pm

i was 15 when i had my first baby and i didnt kill my baby when i needed to study she definitly doesnt need to be let out and she need to have her tubes tied and never have another child again im aorry but what she did was unhuman

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southernpride7 Says:

Thu, Aug 23, 2007 at 1:05 pm

This is why all teenagers starting from age 13 or 14 needs to have their mothers take them and put them on birth control. Not the pills cause they will just forget to take them. I have a 14 year old and as soon as she is finished with taking the HPV shot she will get the birth control shot. You have to take responsibility for having children and then try to help prevent teens getting pregnant. I blame her mother as well as her.

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