A newborn baby boy was found inside a trash can of a gas station, after about an hour of being born.
Metro Cities Fire Authority in Fullerton, California were alerted Thursday at around 3:30 in the afternoon after a gas station clerk found a one-hour-old baby boy dumped in the garbage can inside the gas station's restroom, CBS News reported.
The baby was said to be placed inside a bag.
The firefighters immediately responded at the Chevron gas station located at the 900 block of Orangethorpe Avenue and conducted life-saving measures to the infant.
The newborn was taken to a nearby children's hospital in Orange County. He is currently still in the hospital having a critical yet stable condition.
Alleged mother also charged with felony child abuse
Police authorities straight away investigated the case and did a search of the birth mother.
At about 1:45 in the morning of Friday, police detectives of Fullerton served a search warrant in the 400 block West Orangethorpe Avenue and arrested 25-year-old resident Venissa Maldonado. She was located after authorities obtained surveillance footage with what the latter believed as the suspect's vehicle.
Maldonado is being charged with attempted murder and felony child abuse, according to People.
It is yet to be confirmed whether the baby's mother has given birth to the gasoline station or some place else.
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Fullerton Police Sergeant Ryan O'Neil, who made the announcement about the arrest, expressed how "tragic" it must have been for the mother or anybody to be place in that kind of situation.
Further, he made sure to remind the public about California's Safe Surrender Baby law.
"There are Safe Surrender Baby laws that allow parents, guardians or mothers to surrender their child within 72 hours of birth with no questions asked. There are hospitals that are designated as safe surrender along with fire departments," explained O'Neil, as quoted by Fox 11.
The process will not only be legal but also confidential and free.
The individual surrendering the baby needs to state that he/she voluntarily went to the safe surrender facility and has the intent to safely surrender his/her baby. The person will then be given one of the matching ID bracelets with the baby for the purpose of reclaiming the latter if there will be a change of heart. An optional medical questionnaire will also be provided to the individual surrendering the baby.
The Safely Surrendered Baby Law is California Department of Social Services' response to the growing number of newborn baby deaths caused by abandonment of parents or adults in unsafe locations. It was created in January 2001 with the intent to save the lives of newborn babies with high risk for abandonment by encouraging parents or guardians to safely surrender the child with no questions asked, as long as within 72 hours from birth.
There has been no report yet if Maldonado has entered pleas to her charges or got an attorney to comment on her behalf. Meanwhile, the Fullerton police department is encouraging the public to contact Detective Marcus Saenz at 714-738-5361 for additional information.
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