Baby Found in Gym Bag is in "Excellent Condition"

Nassau County police asked the public for more information about the baby girl left in a gym bag on a Hemptead street corner. The 6-pound, 12-ounce baby, which authorities named Hope, is in "excellent condition" at Winthrop-University Hospital; she was found wrapped in t-shirts, with her umbilical cord still attached (police say it was cut off roughly). While the person(s) who abandoned the baby could face charges, the police want to question him/her/them because "She may be aware of this infant abandonment act, and may have thought she was acting in compliance with that law." The Safe Haven Act allow people to anonymously abandon newborns 5 days or younger at safe locations, like police and fire departments and hospitals.

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By Jen Chung in News on August 20, 2008 9:52 AM

Comments [rss]

robingee

Maybe there should be Safe Haven signs and billboards? I have never seen one. There are TV spots though.

mozilo

Headline Re-Write: Newborn baby in gym bag found to be in "Excellent Shape"

Jen Chung

@NYC Stef, I don't think it's a bruise--could just be the photo-since the police said she was in "excellent condition." Also, newborn can be blotchy.

Guest

the person probably feels that going to the police or fire department increases the risk of getting in trouble.

NYC Stef

Oh my, is that a bruise on the baby's face?

Jen Chung

I've wondered about that too, and my guess is that it's hard to get the message about the Safe Haven Act out to the people who need to know about it. If a woman is having an unwanted baby--or maybe doesn't realize she's pregnant until too late--she's not going to a doctor's office or clinic where she can learn that it is okay to leave a baby in a safe place.

It's very sad, but at least in this instance, someone called 911 and the police were able to get to the child in time, versus other instances of babies being killed in that moment of panic.

Rocknrope

I have to belief that people who continue to dump their babies in trash bins and laundry hampers are either too stupid or don't understand the english language enough to comprehend the Safe Haven law. Even if you don't want the baby, wouldn't you want it to at least be safe?

Or maybe I'm simply underestimating the depravity of humanity.