Baby in foster care sent to hospital

The newborn taken from an Epsom couple last week by state social workers was sent to the hospital yesterday but is fine, officials said last night.

Parents Johnathon Irish and Stephanie Taylor had a supervised visit with their daughter and a state social worker yesterday at a Strafford County administration building and during the visit 'there was some concern about the possibility of some blood that was seen in a diaper,' said Capt. Joseph DiGregorio of the Strafford County Sheriff's Office.

As a 'precautionary measure,' DiGregorio said, the sheriff's office decided to have the baby examined at Exeter Hospital.

But there was 'no indication of any abuse,' he said. 'Zero. Nothing.' The baby was back in foster care last night, DiGregorio said.

The state cited concerns over a history of domestic violence between Irish and Taylor to support its seizure of the baby. Court documents also mention Irish's affiliation with anti-totalitarian group the Oath Keepers. Several websites and blogs reported yesterday that the child, 'Baby Cheyenne,' had been taken to the hospital to be treated for sexual abuse, generating outrage among the couple's supporters.

But 'the baby is absolutely fine,' said Maggie Bishop, the director of the state Division for Children, Youth, and Families. 'The baby is healthy, safe, and absolutely fine.'