Discarded baby saved by authorities in east Mesa
Oct 7, 2013, 8:05 PM | Updated: Oct 8, 2013, 8:03 am
MESA, Ariz. — Authorities say a teenage girl could be facing criminal
charges after giving birth and then leaving the newborn outside an
east Mesa home.
Maricopa County Sheriff’s officials said the baby girl was taken to a hospital
with a possible skull fracture.
Deputies were called to the home Sunday afternoon when the 16-year-old
girl reported giving birth.
Family members told police that they found the placenta, but couldn’t locate
the child.
After about 30 minutes of searching deputies found the baby outside the home in a shed, awake and with vital signs.
Authorities said the unidentified mother could have dropped the infant off at a
nearby hospital or fire station under Arizona’s “safe havens” law.
The 2001 law allows anyone to anonymously drop off unharmed infants within 72
hours of their birth.
Both the mother and baby are expected to recover.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
