Hidden Newborn Death: Jessica Bradford's Secret Pregnancy and Tragic Infanticide Case
Jessica Bradford's tragic story began to unfold on November 4, 2011, when two women made a chilling discovery in her closet at the Julian Youth Academy, a faith-based boarding institution for troubled teens in Whitmore, California. What started as a simple search for blankets quickly turned into a nightmare when Alejandra found what appeared to be a mummified infant hidden among the bedding. Initially thinking it might be a Halloween prank, the women soon realized the horrifying truth when they noticed the weight and texture of what they had found.
The discovery prompted an investigation by the Shasta County Police Department, leading to Bradford's confession that she had given birth on September 19th and hidden the baby girl's remains. During interrogation, the 23-year-old counselor revealed she had concealed her pregnancy from everyone, including her boyfriend of three years, primarily out of fear of losing her job and disappointing her religious family. As investigators searched her living quarters, they uncovered blood-stained clothing, soiled blankets, and disturbing documentation including forms for the disposition of human remains.
Key Takeaways
Two women discovered a deceased infant hidden in Jessica Bradford's closet at the Julian Youth Academy in November 2011.
Bradford confessed to giving birth in secret and hiding the baby's remains for nearly two months before discovery.
The investigation uncovered physical evidence and documentation suggesting Bradford had been concealing significant information about the infant's death.
Grim Discovery in Whitmore Cabin
Two Friends Uncover Hidden Remains
On November 4, 2011, two staff members at the Julian Youth Academy in Whitmore, California made a disturbing discovery while searching for blankets. When a new roommate needed bedding, Alejandra volunteered to check Jessica Bradford's room for extras. While sorting through a pile in the corner, Alejandra found something shocking hidden beneath the blankets.
The object was unusually heavy, and when Alejandra turned it over, she realized it was the body of a deceased infant. Initially thinking it might be a Halloween prop, she quickly realized the remains were real.
"I noticed right away that it was really heavy and it wasn't plastic," Alejandra later told investigators. She immediately called her roommate Corey to confirm what she'd found.
Alejandra's Terrifying Realization
The horrifying discovery left Alejandra in a state of shock. Unable to process what they had found, the women replaced the blankets and tried to continue with their evening.
By morning, Corey couldn't shake the disturbing image from her mind. "That's real," she insisted to Alejandra. The pair decided to check again and then alerted their supervisor, Tiffany.
The women searched the entire campus, including trash bins and Jessica's vehicle, but found no trace of the infant remains. They had vanished. Two days later, on November 6, Tiffany contacted Shasta County Police Department.
When officers arrived, 23-year-old Jessica Bradford admitted she had given birth. She led them to a utility room where they found the remains of a baby girl hidden beneath a pink pillow in a white laundry basket.
During questioning, Jessica revealed she had given birth on September 19, meaning she had kept the deceased infant hidden for nearly two months. She claimed fear of losing her job and disappointing her family had prevented her from telling anyone about her pregnancy.
Julian Youth Academy Overview
The Julian Youth Academy, situated in the wooded areas of Northern California, provides residential support for teenagers facing various challenges. This facility employs both teaching staff and counselors who live alongside students in dormitory-style accommodations. The Academy's remote setting creates a close-knit community where staff members often share living spaces.
Faith-Based Residential Program
The Julian Youth Academy operates as a Christian boarding institution designed specifically for adolescents experiencing behavioral or emotional difficulties. The Academy's programming incorporates religious principles throughout its structure. Located in a secluded woodland environment, the campus features multiple residential buildings where both students and staff reside. The facility maintains a strong emphasis on Christian values, expecting both employees and students to uphold specific moral standards. This faith-based approach significantly influences the Academy's policies, daily operations, and overall atmosphere.
Jessica Bradford's Position
Jessica Bradford, a 23-year-old counselor, lived and worked at the Julian Youth Academy. Before becoming an employee, Bradford had previously been a student at the institution herself. After being adopted at age 2 by parents from San Diego, she eventually returned to the Academy in a professional capacity. As a residential counselor, Bradford lived in the on-campus housing alongside other staff members. Her role included supervising students while maintaining the Academy's Christian principles. Bradford shared her living quarters with several colleagues in a dormitory arrangement typical of the facility's residential staff accommodations.
Investigation Begins
Roommates' Discovery and Confusion
On November 4, 2011, in Whitmore, California, a disturbing situation unfolded at the Julian Youth Academy. Staff member Alejandra was helping a new roommate find blankets when she made a shocking discovery in Jessica Bradford's room. While searching through a pile of blankets in the corner, Alejandra uncovered what appeared to be a mummified baby.
"I thought it was fake at first," Alejandra later told investigators. She initially planned to use it as a Halloween prank, but quickly realized something was wrong when she picked it up. "It was really heavy and it wasn't plastic."
Alejandra called her roommate Corey to witness the disturbing find. Both women, unsure of what to do, covered the baby back up with blankets. The next morning at 7:30 AM, Corey couldn't shake the horrifying image from her mind and insisted they check again.
The Hidden Infant
After confirming their discovery, Alejandra and Corey informed their supervisor, Tiffany. The three women searched the campus thoroughly, checking trash bins and even Jessica's vehicle, but the baby had disappeared without a trace.
Two days after the initial discovery, on November 6th, Tiffany contacted the Shasta County Police Department. Deputy Tipping arrived to investigate the situation at the faith-based boarding school for troubled teens.
When questioned, Jessica Bradford, a 23-year-old counselor who had previously been a student at the academy, made a startling admission. She led authorities to a utility room attached to her residence where they found the remains of a baby girl hidden beneath a pink pillow in a white laundry basket.
Police Investigation and Jessica's Statements
Detective Jackson conducted an interview with Jessica after reading her a Behell statement, which is used in California when someone is speaking voluntarily with police. During questioning, Jessica revealed she had been adopted at age 2 and had been in a relationship with her boyfriend Javon Castillo for nearly three years.
When asked about the baby, Jessica confirmed it was a girl but admitted she hadn't told anyone about her pregnancy. "I was scared... I didn't want to disappoint anyone," she explained, citing concerns about losing her job and disappointing her family.
Jessica disclosed that she gave birth on September 19th at 1:21 AM, nearly two months before the discovery. Her Christian upbringing, where intimacy before marriage was strongly discouraged, contributed to her decision to hide the pregnancy.
Crime scene investigators searched Jessica's disorganized apartment, finding blood-stained gray sweatpants and a soiled pink and zebra-striped blanket. Several concerning documents were discovered, including:
Application and permit for disposition of human remains
Mercy Medical Center maternity pamphlets
Postpartum discharge orders for Jessica
These findings raised serious questions about what truly happened to the infant, with investigators unaware that additional evidence remained hidden under Jessica's bed.
Detailed Investigation Process
Deputy Tipping's Initial Findings
On November 6, 2011, Deputy Tipping arrived at the Julian Youth Academy in Whitmore, California to investigate disturbing claims made by staff members. The investigation began after two employees, Alejandra and Corey, discovered what appeared to be an infant's remains hidden among blankets in their colleague Jessica Bradford's closet. Upon arrival, Deputy Tipping met with the staff manager Tiffany, who had contacted authorities after the women reported their discovery.
When questioned by Deputy Tipping, Jessica Bradford, a 23-year-old counselor at the academy, admitted to giving birth. She then led the deputy to a utility room connected to her residence. There, beneath a pink pillow in a white laundry basket, Deputy Tipping discovered the remains of a baby girl. This confirmation necessitated bringing in Detective Jackson for a more thorough investigation of what was clearly a serious case.
Detective Jackson's Interrogation Techniques
Detective Jackson began his questioning by reading Jessica a Behell statement, which informed her she wasn't under arrest but that her statements could be used against her. He started with basic background questions, learning that Jessica was adopted at age 2 and had previously been a student at the academy where she now worked.
The detective established that Jessica had been in a three-year relationship with a man named Javon Castillo. When questioned about the baby, Jessica revealed several crucial details:
The baby was a girl
She gave birth on September 19th at 1:21 AM
She never told anyone about her pregnancy, including Javon
When pressed on why she concealed her pregnancy, Jessica cited fear of losing her job and disappointing her family. She explained her upbringing in a Christian household where premarital relations were strongly discouraged.
Meanwhile, crime scene investigators searched Jessica's apartment and found:
Blood-stained gray sweatpants
A pink and zebra-striped blanket with dark stains
Various documents including:
An application for disposition of human remains
Maternity pamphlets from Mercy Medical Center
Postpartum discharge orders
These findings raised significant concerns about what truly happened, particularly as investigators noted a concerning detail in the paperwork that suggested Jessica might be hiding additional information. The search team left unaware that additional evidence remained hidden beneath her bed.
Jessica Bradford's Background
Jessica Bradford, a 23-year-old counselor at Julian Youth Academy in Northern California, had a complex personal history that contributed to the circumstances surrounding the November 2011 incident. Her upbringing and relationships shaped many of her decisions and actions leading up to the discovery made by her roommates.
Early Life and Education
Jessica was adopted at age 2 by her parents in San Diego, California. She grew up in what she described as a Christian household where premarital relations were strongly discouraged. This religious upbringing significantly influenced her sense of morality and fear of disappointing her family. Before becoming an employee at Julian Youth Academy, Jessica had actually been a student at the same faith-based boarding institution, which specializes in helping troubled teens. This connection to the academy created a transition from student to staff member, placing her in a position of responsibility at the same facility where she had once received guidance.
Relationship with Javon Castillo
Jessica maintained a romantic relationship with Javon Castillo for nearly three years prior to the events of November 2011. When questioned by investigators, she described their relationship as "good" but revealed that Javon was unaware of her pregnancy or the subsequent birth of their daughter on September 19, 2011. Jessica deliberately kept this information from him, along with concealing her pregnancy from everyone else in her life. When asked why she hadn't informed Javon about the pregnancy, Jessica explained she "didn't know what to do" and was "scared." Her fear extended beyond just her relationship, as she believed revealing her pregnancy would result in losing her job at the academy and disappointing her family members.
The relationship dynamic between Jessica and Javon would become a crucial element for investigators to understand as they pieced together the timeline of events and motivations behind Jessica's actions.
Revelations Emerge
Life's Beginning and Aftermath
On September 19, 2011, Jessica Bradford gave birth alone in her room at Julian Youth Academy, a faith-based boarding institution for troubled teens in Northern California. The 23-year-old counselor kept this event completely secret from everyone in her life, including her boyfriend of nearly three years, Javon Castillo. The baby girl's existence remained hidden until November 4, when two women made a disturbing discovery while searching for blankets in Jessica's closet.
Alejandra, a staff member helping a new roommate move in, found what appeared to be a mummified infant buried beneath several blankets. "It was really heavy and it wasn't plastic," she later told investigators, describing her initial shock upon realizing it wasn't a Halloween prop. The women, uncertain what to do, covered the baby again and temporarily retreated.
The following morning, Alejandra and her roommate Corey confirmed their suspicions that the infant was real. They alerted their supervisor Tiffany, and the three searched for the baby, which had mysteriously vanished. Two days after the initial discovery, Shasta County law enforcement was finally contacted.
Exposing Jessica's Underlying Motivations
When confronted by authorities, Jessica immediately admitted giving birth and led Deputy Tipping to a utility room where she had hidden her baby girl's remains in a white laundry basket beneath a pink pillow. During subsequent questioning, Detective Jackson worked to understand Jessica's reasoning for concealing both her pregnancy and the baby's death.
Jessica revealed several key motivations behind her secrecy:
Fear of job loss: "I probably lose my job. I will lose my job."
Family disappointment: "I just didn't want to disappoint anyone... my family, my mom and stuff."
Religious background: Jessica explained she was raised in a Christian household where intimacy before marriage was strongly discouraged.
The investigation uncovered troubling evidence in Jessica's apartment, including:
Blood-stained gray sweatpants
A soiled pink and zebra-striped blanket
Applications for disposition of human remains
Maternity pamphlets from Mercy Medical Center
Postpartum discharge orders
Perhaps most concerning was the timeline – Jessica had kept the deceased infant hidden for nearly two months after giving birth on September 19. During this period, she had sought medical attention for herself while continuing to conceal what had happened to her baby.
Evidence Collection
Crime Scene Discoveries
Investigators initiated a thorough search of the Julian Youth Academy premises after receiving reports about a disturbing discovery. Upon examining Jessica Bradford's living quarters, they found the room in considerable disarray. Several key pieces of evidence were documented during the search. A pair of gray sweatpants with blood staining on the interior was recovered from the scene. Additionally, crime scene technicians noted a pink and zebra-striped blanket on the floor with unidentified dark stains requiring further analysis.
The baby's remains were eventually located in a utility room connected to Jessica's residence. The infant, identified as a female, was hidden beneath a pink pillow inside a white laundry basket. This discovery occurred on November 6th, two days after staff members Alejandra and Cory initially found the deceased infant buried among blankets in Jessica's closet.
The timeline established by investigators indicated the birth occurred on September 19th, meaning Jessica had kept the deceased infant hidden for approximately seven weeks before discovery. The investigation began when Alejandra, while searching for blankets for a new roommate, uncovered what initially appeared to be a doll but upon closer inspection revealed itself to be the remains of an infant.
Incriminating Documents
Several revealing documents were discovered during the search of Jessica's living space:
Document Type Description Significance Disposition Application "Application and Permit for Disposition of Human Remains" Suggests planning for handling of remains Medical Materials Mercy Medical Center maternity pamphlets Indicates hospital contact/preparation Medical Records Postpartum discharge orders for Jessica Confirms recent childbirth at medical facility
These documents raised significant questions about Jessica's actions and intentions. Notably, investigators identified a concerning inconsistency or red flag within these papers, though they departed the scene without discovering additional evidence that remained hidden beneath Jessica's bed.
During questioning, Jessica admitted she concealed her pregnancy due to fear of losing her job and disappointing her family. She identified the father as her boyfriend of three years, Javon Castillo, claiming he remained unaware of both the pregnancy and birth. Jessica's religious upbringing in a Christian household where premarital relations were discouraged appeared to be a contributing factor in her decision to hide the pregnancy.
Uncovering the Hidden Truth
The Prolonged Concealment
The investigation revealed that Jessica Bradford had kept her deceased infant hidden for approximately seven weeks. When questioned by detectives, Jessica admitted she had given birth on September 19th, meaning she had maintained this terrible secret until the discovery in early November. This extended timeframe shocked investigators, who struggled to comprehend how someone could keep such a situation concealed for so long.
During the interview, Jessica appeared hesitant to share details about her circumstances. When asked why she hadn't disclosed her pregnancy to anyone, she responded, "I probably would lose my job... I just didn't want to disappoint anyone." She specifically mentioned concerns about disappointing her family, explaining she had grown up in a Christian household where intimate relationships before marriage were strongly discouraged.
Her boyfriend Javon Castillo, with whom she had been in a relationship for nearly three years, was reportedly unaware of both the pregnancy and the baby's existence. This claim raised significant questions about the nature of their relationship and the extent of Jessica's isolation during this period.
Overlooked Clues at the Institution
When crime scene investigators searched Jessica's apartment at Julian Youth Academy, they discovered several critical pieces of evidence that painted a disturbing picture. The room was in disarray, complicating the evidence collection process. Among the items recovered were blood-stained gray sweatpants and a pink and zebra-striped blanket with dark, unidentified stains.
More telling were the documents found in a drawer, including:
An application and permit for disposition of human remains
Maternity pamphlets from Mercy Medical Center
Postpartum discharge orders specifically for Jessica
These documents confirmed that Jessica had received medical care related to her pregnancy, contradicting any notion that she had been completely isolated throughout the experience. One particular detail among these papers raised immediate concern for investigators, suggesting Jessica was hiding even more significant information.
Despite their thorough search, investigators left the scene without discovering additional evidence hidden beneath Jessica's bed—a critical oversight that would have implications for the case. The faith-based boarding institution, meant to be a safe haven for troubled teens, had unwittingly harbored this dark secret within its staff quarters.
Final Reflections
The discovery at Julian Youth Academy reveals a disturbing sequence of events that unfolded in November 2011. On the 4th, Alejandra was helping a new roommate search for blankets when she uncovered what appeared to be a mummified infant hidden under a pile of blankets in Jessica Bradford's room.
Initially thinking it might be a Halloween prop, Alejandra quickly realized the horrifying truth when she noticed the weight and texture weren't consistent with a fake. "It was really heavy and it wasn't plastic," she explained to investigators. The discovery left both women in shock.
After briefly covering the infant back up, Alejandra and her roommate Corey revisited the discovery the following morning. They informed their manager Tiffany, and together they searched the campus, but the infant had vanished. Two days after the initial discovery, they contacted the Shasta County Police Department.
When questioned by authorities, 23-year-old Jessica Bradford admitted to giving birth and led Deputy Tipping to the utility room where she had hidden the remains of a baby girl in a white laundry basket beneath a pink pillow. The timeline revealed Jessica had given birth around September 19th, meaning she had kept the deceased infant for nearly two months.
During her interview with Detective Jackson, Jessica revealed several critical details:
She had been in a relationship with Javon Castillo for nearly three years
She hadn't told anyone about her pregnancy, including Javon
She feared losing her job and disappointing her family
She came from a Christian background where premarital relations were discouraged
The crime scene investigation of Jessica's apartment revealed:
Blood-stained gray sweatpants
A soiled pink and zebra-striped blanket
Documents for disposition of human remains
Maternity pamphlets and postpartum discharge papers
These discoveries raised significant questions about what truly happened during and after the birth. The investigators left without finding all potential evidence, as further clues remained hidden under Jessica's bed, suggesting there was more to this tragic story than initially revealed.
