Alexandra Eckersley, daughter of MLB Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley, escaped jail time after being convicted of abandoning her minutes-old baby in the freezing woods. Sentenced to 12 months and six months for multiple charges, Eckersley, 27, will avoid incarceration if she continues mental health treatment.
The incident, which happened on a frigid Christmas night in 2022, nearly led to tragedy as temperatures plunged to 15°F. Eckersley, homeless at the time, gave birth in a tent and later misled first responders about her baby’s location. The infant, suffering from hypothermia, was eventually found and survived. Despite the gravity of her actions, the court ruled that jail would derail the stability she’s gained since her arrest.
Eckersley’s mother, Nancy, tearfully described their new life: “Finally, at 27, Ally is thriving. Teddy is thriving. I have my daughter home.”
