Baby is found alive in a bag inside a gas station trash can as cops hunt for mother in California
One-hour-old baby found alive in a bag inside a gas station trash can as police search for his mother in California
- Crews were called to the service station in Fullerton around 3:30 p.m. Thursday.
- Police are looking for the baby’s mother, whose identity is unknown
An hour-old baby was found alive inside a gas station trash can in Fullerton, Orange County, on Thursday, prompting authorities to search for the mother.
Crews were called to the Chevron gas station, located in the 900 block of Orangethorpe Avenue, around 3:30 p.m. after the baby was discovered in the bathroom, according to the Metro Cities Fire Authority.
The baby had been placed in a bag inside the trash can and was found by a gas station attendant, according to CBS Los Angeles.
Officers immediately began taking life-saving measures, and firefighters rushed the baby to a nearby children’s hospital in the city of Orange. The Fullerton Police Department said she is in a critical but stable condition.
Authorities are reviewing security footage in search of the mother, whose identity is unknown.
The baby had been placed in a bag inside the dumpster and was found by a gas station attendant in Fullerton, according to CBS Los Angeles.
It is an active investigation. They are working on every possible lead to do everything they can to resolve this issue,” said Fullerton Police Department Sgt. Ryan O’Neil.
On Thursday, March 9, 2023, at approximately 3:35 p.m., officers responded to the 900 block of W. Orangethorpe Avenue regarding a possible newborn infant abandoned in a trash can that was located in the bathroom of the business.
O’Neil said: ‘The service call was a possible newborn boy in the bathroom waste bin. Upon arrival, officers located a newborn child in the trash can and immediately began taking life-saving measures.
“Fullerton Fire responded very shortly thereafter and transported the child to a local hospital for further medical attention.”
Crews were called to the Chevron gas station, located in the 900 block of Orangethorpe Avenue, around 3:30 p.m. after the baby was discovered in the bathroom, according to the Metro Cities Fire Authority.
It is not known if the baby’s mother had given birth at the gas station.
“I think it would be a tragic event for anyone to put themselves in that situation,” O’Neil said.
‘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 delivery along with fire departments,” O’Neil said.
The process is legal, confidential and free. The person must indicate that they would like to safely surrender the baby, and matching ID bracelets will be issued with the baby in case the person wants to retrieve the baby at a later time. The person delivering the baby will also be provided with an optional medical questionnaire.
Detectives are investigating who and how the baby was abandoned.
Anyone with information about the abandonment of the baby is asked to call Detective Marcus Saenz at 714-738-5361. Anonymous calls can be made to Orange County Crime Stoppers at 855-TIP-OCCS or sent to occrimestoppers.org.