CALDWELL – A Nampa woman accused of trying to give away one of her children to a stranger and hurt another in an irrigation canal appeared in court Monday afternoon.
Regina Dilworth is charged with felony injury to a child and misdemeanor injury to a child.
According to court documents, the 22-year-old mother was reportedly high on bath salts when she submerged her 9-month-old son in a canal Saturday morning.
Nampa Police say several people spotted Dilworth walking on Sherman Avenue Saturday morning, holding her infant son and her 4-year-old daughter following behind.
Dilworth reportedly stopped a random person in their front yard and asked them to take her 4-year-old while stating “save my girl.”
Another concerned passerby asked Dilworth if she needed help, but got no response. Fortunately the passerby followed Dilworth to make sure she was OK.
Dilworth walked across Chicago Street toward a canal. The concerned passerby followed Dilworth and spotted Dilworth in the water, with the water submerged up to the baby’s neck. The Good Samaritan jumped in and grabbed the 9-month-old, while other people pulled Dilworth from the water.
“We learned that a Good Samaritan, actually several Good Samaritans, had made contact with Regina,” said Nampa Police Sgt. Jason Cantrell. “Regina was making weird statements and was incoherent when she was communicating with people who were out and about at that time of morning.”
According to the court documents, Dilworth was interviewed by Nampa Police Detective Norm Corder. She admitted injecting a combination of bath salts and an opiate at her home the night before the incident. She said she remembers walking out of her house with her children and “walking toward the light.” Dilworth further stated to the detective she heard voices telling her that her children were possessed and she needed to “find God.”
She also remember feeling something cold and needing to “baptize” her infant child. The ditch she and the boy were pulled from measured 10 inches in depth and three feet wide with running water.
In court Monday, the public defender requested Dilworth be evaluated by a mental health professional.
Dilworth’s bond was set at $50,000. Her next court appearance will be August 13.
The children have been placed in protective custody with the state.