Newborn Death Leads to Arrests at Fort Collins Birthing Center

Following the death of a newborn in February 2026, the owner and a midwife at Tender Gifts Birth and Wellness Center in Fort Collins were arrested on September 1, 2026. Althea Hrdlichka, the center's owner, and midwife Brecklen Ables face charges including tampering with physical evidence and attempting to influence a public servant. Hrdlichka is also charged with forgery.

The state health department's investigation report detailed that the newborn died over 10 hours after the mother arrived at the facility in active labor. The infant experienced shoulder dystocia, a complication during delivery. Despite resuscitation efforts and a 911 call, the baby was not breathing.

During their investigation, state officials identified discrepancies between facility and emergency medical service protocols during neonatal resuscitation. While an initial tracking software issue was noted regarding fetal heart rate monitoring, state investigators ultimately found that fetal heart tones were not assessed in accordance with policy during active labor on February 8, 2026.

Further concerns were raised by state investigators regarding the facility's internal review of the incident, which they found falsely concluded no quality issues. The review was conducted by staff involved in the birth, rather than an objective third party. Police involvement, initiated after seizing client records, uncovered a similar incident in 2025, along with evidence of forgery and tampering.

Both Hrdlichka and Ables are scheduled to appear in court on September 15, 2026. The Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies is also conducting a separate investigation into their conduct, utilizing evidence gathered by Fort Collins Police.