Officer Smashes Car Window to Save a “Baby” — Then Discovers the Truth

During the warmer months, police officers across the country are on high alert for a tragic yet preventable danger — children left inside hot vehicles. Temperatures can soar inside parked cars within minutes, even with the windows cracked. That’s why every summer, officers brace for emergency calls that can mean the difference between life and death.

For Officer Jason Short of Keene, New Hampshire, one such call came in on a scorching afternoon. Dispatchers reported a possible infant left alone in a car parked outside a local Walmart. Without hesitation, Short turned on his lights and sirens and raced to the scene.

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The Alarming Discovery

“I got there as soon as I could,” Jason told WMUR News. “I don’t know how fast I was going, but it was quick.”

When he arrived, he spotted a small figure in the back seat — a baby wrapped tightly in a blanket. Through the glass, he could see tiny feet and what looked like the faint outline of a face. The car doors were locked, and the afternoon heat was unbearable.

Fearing the worst, Officer Short grabbed his baton and smashed the window without a second thought. He pulled the motionless child from the vehicle and immediately began CPR. Onlookers gathered, some calling for an ambulance, others frozen in shock.

But as he leaned closer to check the baby’s breathing, something felt wrong. The skin was too smooth, the limbs too stiff. Within seconds, the horrifying truth set in — it wasn’t a real baby at all.

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A Shocking Revelation

The “infant” was actually an incredibly lifelike reborn doll, one of dozens owned by Carolynne Seiffer, a local woman who had left it in the car while she shopped. The doll, named Ainsley, was part of her personal collection — more than forty hyper-realistic dolls she used to help cope with the loss of her son years earlier.

“I’ve been laughed at and embarrassed by all the fuss,” Carolynne told WMUR. “But I never meant to cause any trouble.”

When she returned to the parking lot, she found a crowd gathered around her car, a shattered window, and a shaken police officer standing beside the lifeless doll he had just tried to save.

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What Are “Reborn Dolls”?

According to The Washington Post, reborn dolls are handcrafted, hyper-realistic baby dolls created to look and feel as real as possible — down to the weight, skin tone, and even tiny veins. Many people collect them as art pieces, while others use them as therapeutic tools to process grief, anxiety, or trauma related to child loss.

Carolynne explained that she uses her dolls as a form of emotional comfort. “You can’t know how people choose to deal with their losses in life,” she said. “For me, it’s healing.”

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The Officer’s Response

While Officer Short initially felt embarrassed by the misunderstanding, he stood firmly by his decision to act.

“I would never assume it’s a doll,” he said. “If there’s even a chance that a real child is in danger, you act. I would never do anything different.”

The Keene Police Department later covered the $300 cost of replacing Carolynne’s broken window. Both parties agreed that the incident was an unfortunate misunderstanding but ultimately a valuable lesson in public safety and compassion.

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A Lesson in Caution and Empathy

Though no one was hurt, the story serves as a powerful reminder of the urgency behind such emergency calls — and the unpredictable situations officers face every day. A few seconds of hesitation could cost a life, and in this case, Officer Short’s instinct came from a place of care and duty.

Authorities have since advised owners of lifelike dolls to avoid leaving them visible inside vehicles, as their realism can easily cause confusion and unnecessary panic.

In the end, what began as a tense rescue turned into a touching moment of understanding — a testament to both human compassion and the unpredictable ways people cope with grief.