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AJC.com > Metro > View from the cop > Archives > 2007 > March > 12 > Entry
A discarded newborn shadows the day
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Today is not a good day. It is the leftover day from yesterday’s finding of a small child’s body.
There are times when you realize that human beings can stand up to the occasions and be heroic and then there are other times that you question how some people can stand to live another day after having done what they did.
One of those days was Sunday. A young boy, about 12, found a gym bag lying next to the street in his community of town homes. He looked in the bag and saw what he thought was a doll, until he touched it. He then realized that it was not a doll and he carried the bag to his home around the corner. What was in the bag was not a doll but a deceased newborn baby. We did a large media request and all of the stations were very responsive and helped get the word out; which is what we’ll need to do to find who the mother is.
Regardless of how many years you have been in the public safety field or medical field or media field, these calls are, by far, the worst. It is hard for anyone, especially parents, to fathom how anyone could discard a defenseless newborn child, on the side of the road like it was garbage. It was undignified and it was unnecessary.
Not wanting the child or not being able to raise a child is one thing but there are options under the Safe Haven Laws. Generally speaking, a mother can relinquish a newborn child, less than one week, to a medical facility including a hospital or infirmary or other active medical treatment area, and walk away with immunity from prosecution. There are certain preferred requirements such as the need for the mother to be identified but the law is set up to provide this option as opposed to throwing away the life of a child.
The mother could be a young teenager who possibly kept her pregnancy a secret. The child appears to be full-term. Maybe someone out there knows of a woman or young girl who was pregnant and now there is no baby with them. This is an act of desperation and as such, the mother may provide the clues to a family member or friend or neighbor that would tie this deceased child to her.
I did a bunch of media interviews. We asked the TV, radio, and newspaper to help us on this and they were very responsive. Thanks.
If you know someone, maybe a young girl who didn’t plan the pregnancy or someone that you think might be at risk, as a mother, and therefore may a risk to a newborn child, find out what you can do or what resources you can help provide.
Whoever did this to a small infant needs to be found and they need to be responsible for what they did. No human, especially a newborn child, totally defenseless, should die in such a way. I hope that we solve this case soon. Let’s hope Tuesday is a better day.
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By Patrick
March 13, 2007 4:13 PM | Link to this
That is just sad. I’m not a parent, but I still can’t understand why anyone would throw away a perfectly healthy baby like that. Or any newborn baby for that matter. The only reason I could see is that maybe there isn’t a medical facility within a reasonable distance for the mother. If the mother was a teenager, she probably couldn’t get transportation, or didn’t want transportation, for fear of her parents or another relative being contacted. Maybe Georgia needs to do what California or some other states do: allow the mother to leave the unwanted child elsewhere at a “Safe Place” like a fire station or police station. If the mother gives birth in her bathroom or elsewhere besides a hospital, she can surrender it to a nearby fire station or police station without giving a name or address. Those working at either location can then call or transport the newborn to a local hospital, who would be able to take care of it and turn it over to DFCS, who then would be able to place the newborn with a foster family or adoptive family.
By Patrick
March 13, 2007 4:20 PM | Link to this
You can read about California’s Safely Surrender Baby Law here.
By Cassie
March 13, 2007 9:30 PM | Link to this
This kills me. I tried to get pregnant for two years to no avail, and someone else a) got pregnant and b) abandoned the baby leaving it to die.
I swear, there is no justice in the world.
By Jennifer
March 13, 2007 9:43 PM | Link to this
This is a tragedy however, it is so similar to the defenseless newborns whose lives are taken in the process of the ‘partial birth’ abortion…and what is the difference?
By Cassie
March 14, 2007 7:44 AM | Link to this
Jennifer - the difference is that no woman should ever be “forced” to have a child, regardless of circumstance. While it isn’t a choice to abandon a full term infant and leave it to tie, it is a choice to terminate an in utero fetus that is not viable outside the womb.
And as much as I want a child myself, I would never presume to tell someone what is right or not right for them, regardless of personal circumstance.
Sorry!
By Jennie
March 14, 2007 8:46 AM | Link to this
What about the poor child that found such a disturbing thing? A child has been lost and another child has been traumatized because of this needless act. I hope the poor young man is ok.
By Rosa Boster
March 14, 2007 9:09 AM | Link to this
This is so pitiful, I believe anyone thinking of abortion should watch one,(just one) as a requirment of getting one. This would just cause them to be able to give “Informed Concent” which is what we harp about in other situations . Bet this would cut abortions almost out and would give the childless couples a child to cherish. Hitler killed the Jews, all ages we have doctors whom do the partial birth abortion, I believe they will ultimately vbe condemed at the end as worse than Hitler. Rosa
By Rosa Boster
March 14, 2007 9:10 AM | Link to this
This is so pitiful, God has another angel. I believe anyone thinking of abortion should watch one,(just one) as a requirment of getting one. This would just cause them to be able to give “Informed Concent” which is what we harp about in other situations . Bet this would cut abortions almost out and would give the childless couples a child to cherish. Hitler killed the Jews, all ages we have doctors whom do the partial birth abortion, I believe they will ultimately vbe condemed at the end as worse than Hitler. Rosa
By Cassie
March 14, 2007 11:09 AM | Link to this
Rosa -
You are right, God does have another angel. And I’ve seen footage of both a partial birth and a first trimeseter abortion, and it doesn’t change my mind. If I needed to have one, I would. And whatever decision I make, and whatever price I pay, is between myself and God.
Steve - bet you didn’t think your post would go this way, did you?
By Kat
March 14, 2007 12:10 PM | Link to this
Steve, I saw you on TV and your grief was palpable. I hope you find the person responsible.
By ganavyvet
March 14, 2007 1:45 PM | Link to this
I was fortunate to be adopted in 1950. I could have been aborted (even though it wasn’t legal)or worse. I have a son who was almost aborted. These are signs of the the times this and many other things going on. Pray for that baby and many others, pray for the Mother(s). The selfishness of people never fails to amaze me.
By Missandie
March 14, 2007 3:32 PM | Link to this
Patrick, that is the most upsetting part of the story. Georgia has had the ‘Safe Place for Newborns Act’ since 2002. The mother had somewhere she could have left her poor baby ith if she felt that she could not or did not want to care for the baby.
And Jennie, I agree. The 12 year old that found the baby has to be traumatized by the turn of events. So sad all around.
By Missandie
March 14, 2007 3:37 PM | Link to this
Patrick, that is the most upsetting thing about this whole ordeal. Georgia has had the ‘Safe Place for Newborns Act’ in place since 2002. The mother had somewhere safe to take her newborn. And Jennie, I would have to agree with you. That poor twelve year old has to be traumatized by finding the baby. So sad all around.
By Lt. Steve
March 14, 2007 11:17 PM | Link to this
So far, no real leads. I did get a couple of calls for funds for a service for the child. We won’t (can’t) sponsor it but i think i’ll look for a bank to open an account for anyone to give for perhaps a service at some point.
By Cassie
March 15, 2007 2:04 PM | Link to this
Steve -
I know other states/counties have approrpriated funds for this (charitable donations or otherwise) but….where will this child be buried?