ST. LOUIS (KTVI) – Records from a doctor who spent years taking care of babies at Homer G. Phillips Hospital. That’s the former city hospital where families have come forward with stories of babies stolen at birth. The doctor was director of pediatrics from 1945 – 1966 at Homer G. Phillips. He donated 70 years of records to a University before he died. Dozens of families have been waiting for any information they can get.
Just one case, reported only here on Fox 2, has court documented evidence of a stolen baby. That’s Marnita McGill. Yet even she is looking for anything that can fill in the blanks.
“This is a very exciting find,” said community activist Paul Berry III.
Berry said he’s been looking for answers since April 9, when Fox 2 first brought you the reunion of Zella Jackson Price and her daughter. The reunion came 50 years after Price said hospital staff claimed her daughter died at birth.
“We’ve sort of been on an Easter egg hunt trying to find these records and it’s great that we’re finally going to understanding the blueprint of what was going on from the words of the guy who was in charge of that hospital maternity ward,” Berry said.
Berry said he found it with the help of RMRI Private Investigations’ Lori Yanis and Rick Gurley.
“I might have spearheaded the effort, but it’s their legwork that got this done,” he said. “I think that we’re probably going to be able to get a lot of information, something that apparently our government hasn’t been able to ascertain yet.”
Sixty-four folders should be available next week, including “activities reports from 1955-1962,” articles the doctor wrote on “medical ethics and professional conduct,” statistics on “newborns, premature infants, stillbirths, infant deaths and overcrowding at Homer G. Phillips.”
Berry said he plans to make the documents available to everyone. They’re currently in storage, but on their way to Paul Berry and Fox 2, scheduled to arrive sometime next week.
Follow Chris Hayes on Twitter @ChrisHayesTV
