Woman accused of discarding newborn identified, charged with child neglect

Orlando police are searching for a baby girl who they say was discarded by her mother shortly after she was born.

Officers responded to an apartment complex after someone reported seeing a placenta and afterbirth in the parking lot.

Johnnie Bryant, said he was at the doctor's office with another child and returned home to find blood on the floor. He lives in the home behind the apartments.

Police identified the mother on Tuesday as Susan Richardson, 30.

She was arrested and is facing a charge of aggravated child neglect.

Bryant said he didn't know his girlfriend of 12 years had given birth when he called an ambulance.

"I told her, 'I'm going to call the ambulance.' She said, 'Well, don't call the ambulance.' Well I called the ambulance. The ambulance came and got her and took her to the hospital," Bryant said.

Bryant said he isn't sure if he's the father of the child.

Investigators determined that a full-term baby had been born and discarded, the Orlando Police Department said. They said they’re not sure if the baby is alive or dead.

Search and rescue was called in and four teams of dogs were used to scour the area for the baby.

Police said “a giant area” was searched, along with every dumpster in the area, but the baby was not found.

Police said Richardson admitted giving birth to a baby girl.

Police are looking for anyone who may have seen her in the area between 10 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. Monday.

People around the neighborhood said she’s known to walk through the apartment complex, but doesn’t live at Willow Bend Apartments.

Police said Richardson lives close to a police substation and could have asked for help there.

Anyone with information on the woman or the missing baby is asked to contact the Orlando Police Department or Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS.