The 19-day-old boy appeared unharmed after witnesses found him in a car seat and called police.
INDIANAPOLIS — A 24-year-old Indiana mother has been charged with neglect of a dependent after police said her 19-day-old son was intentionally left in a car seat behind a southeast Indianapolis shopping center, where investigators found a handwritten note asking that the baby be placed with another family.
Faith Argo was arrested Aug. 26, two days after Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers responded to the 5400 block of East Thompson Road. Court records cited in the latest reporting show Argo has since been charged with one count of neglect of a dependent involving alleged abandonment or cruel confinement. The allegation remains unproven, and Argo has not been convicted in the case.
Police were called shortly before 7 p.m. Aug. 24 after a man and his wife found the infant behind the East Thompson Shopping Center. According to court documents, the man had seen a woman carrying a car seat across the shopping center parking lot and later saw her return without it. Concerned about the child, he and his wife went behind the building and found the baby still strapped into the seat. The couple estimated the infant had been alone for about 15 minutes.
Investigators said a handwritten note was left with the baby. It said, “I am unable to keep him, needs a good family.” Court records said the paper also contained identifying information, including part of a telephone number and a Greenfield address connected to a place where Argo had recently stayed. Police also reviewed surveillance footage that showed a woman carrying the car seat toward the rear of the shopping center and later walking back without it.
The baby was taken to Riley Hospital for Children for an evaluation. Police initially said he appeared uninjured, and later reporting based on court documents said medical workers found no visible marks or trauma. The Indiana Department of Child Services took custody of the child after the hospital evaluation. The boy’s name has not been publicly released.
According to investigators’ account of Argo’s police interview, she gave birth Aug. 5 and had been struggling with unstable housing and the demands of caring for the newborn. Court documents said she had spent time at a women’s shelter and later stayed with another person in Greenfield. Investigators wrote that Argo had considered adoption before the birth, later decided to keep her son and then concluded she could no longer care for him.
Argo told detectives she had researched adoption and Indiana’s Safe Haven options, according to the court records. She said transportation was an obstacle to reaching a Safe Haven Baby Box. On Aug. 24, however, she used a rideshare to travel with the infant more than 20 miles from the Greenfield area to the East Thompson Road area. Court documents said she later acknowledged to investigators that leaving the baby behind the shopping center was wrong.
The precise allegation reported in the case changed as the investigation moved forward. On Aug. 26, WRTV reported that police described the preliminary allegation as neglect of a dependent resulting in serious bodily injury, although authorities had initially said the infant appeared uninjured. Police declined at that time to provide further information about the child’s condition. By Aug. 31, court records cited by Law&Crime showed Argo charged with one count of neglect of a dependent involving alleged abandonment or cruel confinement.
Indiana’s Safe Haven Law allows an unharmed infant to be surrendered anonymously through authorized emergency services providers or approved newborn safety devices. Current state policy applies to qualifying infants within 60 days of birth. The Indiana Department of Child Services says a surrendered baby is examined, receives medical treatment if necessary and is then taken into care through child protection authorities or a licensed child-placing agency.
The infant remains in the care of the Indiana Department of Child Services. Court records cited in the latest reporting list an omnibus hearing for Argo on Nov. 4. Further court proceedings will determine the disposition of the criminal allegation.
Author note: Last updated August 31, 2026.