MANCHESTERJury selection date set in Eckersley trial

Jury selection has been scheduled for January in the case of the daughter of MLB Hall of Fame pitcher Dennis Eckersley who gave birth in the woods in New Hampshire in subfreezing temperatures.

Alexandra Eckersley gave birth to a son on Dec. 26 in the woods in Manchester, who was left alone in a tent for more than an hour before police officers found him, authorities said. They accused her of abandoning her child without heat or proper clothing.

Her lawyer said the 26-year-old Eckersley didn’t know she was pregnant, gave birth alone, called 911, and led police to the baby. She said Eckersley suffered medical complications. She pleaded not guilty to charges of assault, reckless conduct, and falsifying physical evidence.

Since then, she finished rehabilitation programs, is sober, and sees her son twice a week, her lawyer said.

“She just saw him yesterday,” defense attorney Kim Kossick told WMUR-TV. “I’ve seen tons of pictures of him. He’s beautiful and healthy.”

A court document indicated there was a plea offer and a response to it, but it offered no details.

A man who was arrested with Eckersley is scheduled for trial in August charges of tampering with witnesses, reckless conduct and endangering the welfare of a child.

Associated Press

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