Mother of deceased newborn found in CR&R trash identified, arrested

When a newborn body was found in the CR&R Perris Transfer & Recovery Facility on Goetz Road amongst trash that had been delivered there for processing in January, the Sheriff’s Department reached out for help from communities, including Canyon Lake, that were serviced by CR&R. Finally, after nine months, the baby’s birth parents have been identified and the mother has been arrested on murder charges.

Brittany Peevyhouse

Brittany Suzanne Peevyhouse, 31, of Perris was arrested by Perris Police officials on Friday and charged with murder with malice. She is being held without bail at Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside.

An autopsy conducted at the time of the baby’s discovery determined the baby was born alive and died of “trauma,” thus the Sheriff’s Department’s Central Homicide Unit took over the investigation.

Trash services in Canyon Lake are contracted to CR&R and dump trucks coming from Canyon Lake may transfer their trash at the Perris facility. Hence, Canyon Lake residents were asked to report anyone who was due to give birth, was no longer pregnant, and there was cause for concern.

Although the birth father was identified, according to police, he has not been arrested and no additional information was released.

There is a no-questions-asked Safely Surrender program in place for those mothers who wish to give up their child after birth.

The Safely Surrendered Baby Law (also known as the Safe Haven Law or Newborn Abandonment Law) allows a mother to “safely surrender” her unwanted newborn within three days of birth to an employee at any hospital emergency department, most fire stations or other designated “safe havens” in California, without the fear of arrest or prosecution, as long as the baby has not been abused or neglected.