Sampson County Sheriff's Office 
Seventeen Year Old Charged in Death of Infant
Marleni Morales Bamaca
On Friday, September 14, 2007, around 1:00 PM, a seventeen year old female went to Sampson Regional Medical Center seeking treatment. The physician determined that the female had recently given birth, however she denied giving birth. Hospital officials alerted the Sheriff's Office in order to send someone to confirm the condition of the baby. Deputies responded to 1496 Taylor's Bridge Road, Clinton, NC in an attempt to find the child. Deputies were able to locate evidence of a child birth. Further investigation led to the discovery of the body of an infant male.
On September 17, 2007, the seventeen year old, Marleni Morales Bamaca, of 1496 Taylor's Bridge Road, Clinton, NC, was released from Sampson Regional Medical Center where she was taken into custody by investigators from the Sampson County Sheriff's Office. Ms. Bamaca was charged with Murder. She is currently being held in the Sampson County Detention Center without the priviledge of bond. Sheriff Jimmy Thornton stated, "This case is probably one of the most difficult that my detectives have had to handle because the victim was an infant. All of us, especially those of us who are parents, were shaken. I can't imagine what would cause someone to cause harm to a baby. I want to remind everyone of the "Safe Surrender Law", which allows a parent to surrender an unwanted baby to any law enforcement officer, medic, firefighter, or social service worker, without any questons or criminal charges. There are plenty of people that want to adopt a baby, who would have gladly taken the infant and raised him.