Police latest theory as they search for missing mother who abandoned her baby in stranger’s backyard after seeing children’s playground equipment
- The police ask for help in identifying the mysterious mother
- A baby was abandoned in Blacktown on Friday
- Police said the community has the answers
Detectives believe local residents hold the key to finding the mysterious mother who left her newborn in a stranger’s backyard.
NSW Police said solving the puzzle over the mother’s identity rests with those living around Blacktown and Doonside in Sydney’s west to come forward with all relevant information.
The naked baby girl – barely an hour old – was discovered alone on a wicker chair next to a children’s play set in a Blacktown residence on Friday, April 21.
She was covered in birth fluid with the umbilical cord still attached to her as she lay on a pillow.
The baby has spent the past two weeks in Blacktown Hospital recovering after becoming unwell, but will soon go to foster care.
NSW Police said solving the puzzle over the mother’s identity is for locals around Blacktown and Doonside in western Sydney to come forward with information (pictured, an aerial view of the house containing the playset for children)
The naked baby girl – barely an hour old – was discovered alone on a wicker chair next to a children’s playset in a Blacktown residence on Friday, April 21 (pictured, the playset with the wicker chair in the background)
Detective Inspector Jason Pietruszka said police have no leads on who the baby’s mother is, but are pressing for answers (stock image)
The baby was covered in birth fluid with the umbilical cord still attached as she lay on a pillow near a children’s playground (pictured)
Detective Inspector Jason Pietruszka said police have no leads on who the baby’s mother is, but are pressing for answers.
“We want to know what happened, the backstory behind it,” he said The Saturday Telegraph.
“It’s certainly very sad, tragic, but that’s why we’re police officers, to find the truth so we can help.
“We don’t have answers at this time and it’s frustrating, but we’re calling on the grassroots for people in this proud community to come forward.”
He urged residents in the area to report anything unusual they saw where someone looked like they were in trouble or behaved unusually.
Inspector Pietruszka said police also searched DNA records in their system to see if there are any similar matches to the tiny baby.
He added that he was confident agents would find a match.
But he stopped speculating about the child’s ethnicity because her facial features were not yet fully developed.
Detectives also search CCTV footage from the area for hours.
Inspector Pietruszka said that if the mother does not come forward, the baby will be available for adoption.
He urged the mother not to panic or feel pressured, but to come forward so that the authorities can help her.
Meanwhile, Ann Carlos, who lives in the Girra Road residence where the child was found, said her sister Lara discovered the baby when she went to hang the washing on the washing line.
The family wrapped the chilly newborn in a towel before calling triple-0 as paramedics instructed them over the phone on how to clamp the umbilical cord.
‘I couldn’t find anything in the kitchen so I grabbed a shoelace and then used it [paramedics] explained to me how to do it,’ said Mrs. Carlos The Daily Telegraph.
Ann Carlos, who lives at the Girra Road residence in Blacktown (pictured), where the child was found, said her sister Lara discovered the baby when she went to hang the washing on the washing line
“We knew she was born very recently, just hours before, because she still had the white stuff [vernix] on her head.’
She said she thought the newborn had been cleaned before being dumped in their backyard because there wasn’t much blood on her.
Ms. Carlos recalled hearing the side gate slam loudly around 2pm, when she thought it was her brother-in-law.
“But now we realize that must have been the mother or whoever left the baby here, and they loudly closed it so we would go out and find her. You don’t slam a gate if you don’t want to be heard,’ she said.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.