Another abandoned baby.....

[Galahad]

This is such a shame. Especially since she had other options. Hopefully the baby is ok......

Newborn left on porch in
frigid temps
'I can't take care of it, please
help' says note

LAWRENCE, Ind. (WISH) - Police are looking for the mother of an abandoned infant found in a shoe box on the porch of a home in Lawrence.

Police say the baby was discovered in the 6800 block of Clemdale Avenue Wednesday morning. It was just 22 degrees outside at the time. According to police, two women were visiting a friend when they noticed a shoe box on the friend's porch.

They said the child's legs were sticking out of the box. At first they thought the child was a doll until the legs started to move. They found the baby wrapped in a blanket and T-shirt. The women said a note had been left behind which read, "I can't take care of it, please help."

Lawrence police said the child is a black female. She was taken to Riley Hospital. Her condition is not known at this time, but paramedics estimate the child is 24 hours old and still had the umbilical cord attached.

The homeowner said she doesn't know anyone who was about to give birth.

If you have any information to the mother's whereabouts please call (317) 545-7575.

------------------------------------------------------------

The mother had the option to use Indiana's Safe Haven Law , which was put into effect March 2000.

The law allows mothers to leave their unwanted newborn baby in a safe location such as a hospital, fire station (not a Volunteer Fire Stations), police station, or another designated area such as a health care providers office. Total secrecy for the mother is assured, and she will not be prosecuted for abandonment or neglect if she acts within 45 days of the birth, and the baby is not harmed. Once the newborn is left at a Safe Haven location, they are given medical attention and care and placed in an appropriate home.

 

[EmmersIsTheMommy]

Wh..WHY?!

This isn't the 1930's! That's why this law exists!

 

[DVCisME]

So sad. The baby will be in our prayers.

 

[mrsltg]

So sad. A good friend of my family was one of the original framers of the Safe Haven Law. He is an AMT who finally had enough when he pulled a drowned newborn out of a toilet. Why not drop the baby off somewhere safe?

 

[Keira1387]

A shoebox?!!! That is just horrible! I hope they are able to find the baby a good home!

 

[N&B'smom]

Poor little thing. It breaks my heart.

 

[CathrynRose]

Ay yi yi.

My god - we have laws for this.

Does anyone know, if these safe haven laws are actually taught in schools? I mean, we're adults - we know about this, but do High Schoolers (heck, even Middle Schoolers?) know about this??

I'm gonna ask my boys if they know about this law.

 

[sandy6879]

Ay yi yi.

My god - we have laws for this.

Does anyone know, if these safe haven laws are actually taught in schools? I mean, we're adults - we know about this, but do High Schoolers (heck, even Middle Schoolers?) know about this??

I'm gonna ask my boys if they know about this law.

good point.

The other point - if her parents didn't know she was pregnant, as happens often enough, and she didn't have access to transportation, this might have been all she could have done. It's so sad, but at least the baby wasn't thrown out in the garbage.

 

[cteddiesgirl]

Actually, I believe I've only heard about this law in Indiana once before. And that's been a few years ago. Then again, I've been out of school since long before 2000.

I think that any girl who is frightened and basically alone would be too scared to go into a hospital or police station and just leave a baby. Scared that they might actually be arrested or have to give out information. It's very possible that the mother is very young and her parents might not have known she was pregnant or just plain didn't care.

This might not be the 30's or even the 60's, but there are still people out there that would completely disown their kids for having children before marrying no matter how old they are.


Its truly sad. Of course, if birth control was readily available, then we wouldn't have to worry so much about newborns being abandoned.

 

[Deb in IA]

So sad. Why a doorstep, in the cold, when the baby could have been properly cared for in a Safe Haven location?

We had a very sad case involving a local girl last year. She was on vacation in Pompano Beach, FL with her parents and boyfriend after her high school graduation, when she gave birth to a full term girl in the bathroom in the middle of the night. She then wrapped the baby in a sheet and threw her down 7 floors in a trash chute. The baby was later found and autopsy showed she died of head trauma. The girl was charged with first degree murder, as an adult, as she had turned 18 a month prior. She agreed to plead guilty to involuntary manslaughter, and was sentenced to 13 years in a Florida prison.

Incredibly, the girl had apparently "researched" Safe Haven laws, according to her parents.

 

[SnowWhite607]

It makes me sad because there are so many people out there who WANT babies and cant have them and then there are those who have no thought for human life.

 

[cteddiesgirl]

I just heard that they did find the mother of the baby.

She's a 17 year old high school student. Evidently she told her guidance counselor about it and the police were notified.

 

[Galahad]

I just heard that they did find the mother of the baby.

She's a 17 year old high school student. Evidently she told her guidance counselor about it and the police were notified.

Good! I hope she gets the help - and I'm afraid, protection - she needs!

 

[DizneyPhile]

Never fear....thanks to President Hussein...these women can take of their little "problem" anywhere, anytime - even just after the birth !

 

[Scornelius]

Never fear....thanks to President Hussein...these women can take of their little "problem" anywhere, anytime - even just after the birth !

Thanks for the contribution to the discussion. That was really helpful!

 

[Stacerita]

Never fear....thanks to President Hussein...these women can take of their little "problem" anywhere, anytime - even just after the birth !

Never fails.

 

[DizneyPhile]

Thanks for the contribution to the discussion. That was really helpful!

I know you Messiah supporters don't want to face reality. I suggest you look up the Freedom of Choice act that the new saviour plans to sign this week. Remember, it was he who said "I don't want my daughters PUNISHED with a baby." How about a bit of personal responsibility instead ? Oh, I forgot - the government will do that for you...

 

[flying_babyb]

I know when I was in highschool (2003) we never heard about the safe haven law. I think they should include it in health class and Sex Education. They need to do somthing to better educate. This used to happen ALOT in my home town.