Early Sunday morning, law enforcement officers in the Bronx discovered a newborn girl abandoned in a tote bag outside an apartment building. The officers were responding to a 911 call reporting a crying baby around 6 a.m. near 1102 Reverend James Polite Ave., according to police and law enforcement sources.
The caller who reported the incident was interviewed by the officers. Following the conversation, they discovered the infant, swaddled in a blanket and left in the discarded bag. The identity of the person who abandoned the baby remains unknown, and the police are actively investigating the matter.
Emergency medical services were immediately dispatched to the scene. The newborn was transported to NYC Health and Hospital/Jacobi, where she was reported to be in stable condition. The quick response of both the caller and the emergency services likely saved the infant’s life, given the cold weather conditions that morning.
The incident has sparked a city-wide search for the person or persons responsible for abandoning the newborn. Law enforcement officials are urging anyone with information to come forward. The case serves as a stark reminder of the Safe Haven laws in place, which allow parents to leave newborns at designated locations without fear of prosecution.
The Safe Haven law in New York allows parents to leave their newborns, up to 30 days old, with an appropriate person or in a suitable location where the baby will be safe and promptly discovered. The law is designed to protect infants from being harmed due to abandonment and to provide parents in crisis with a safe and legal alternative.
As the investigation continues, the focus remains on the wellbeing of the newborn girl. Medical professionals at NYC Health and Hospital/Jacobi are providing her with the necessary care. Meanwhile, the community has been left shocked and saddened by the incident, hoping for justice for the abandoned infant.