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Mother who left baby in New York church manger won't be charged Mother who left baby in New York church manger will not be charged
(about 1 hour later)
A woman who left her newborn son in a manger at a New York City church will not face criminal charges for giving him up, a prosecutor said on Wednesday. A woman who left her newborn son in a manger in a New York City church will not face criminal charges for giving him up.
A custodian on Monday found the crying infant with his umbilical cord still attached. He had been wrapped in towels and placed in the indoor nativity scene at the Holy Child Jesus Church in Queens, New York police said. A custodian on Monday found the crying infant with his umbilical cord still attached. He had been wrapped in towels and placed in the indoor nativity scene at the Holy Child Jesus Church in Queens, police said.
The baby’s mother was located by police. Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said on Wednesday she would not be prosecuted because she gave up the child in accordance with the state’s “safe haven” law. The baby’s mother was located by police. The Queens district attorney said on Wednesday she would not be prosecuted because she gave up the child in accordance with the state’s “safe haven” law.
“It appears that the mother, in this case, felt her newborn child would be found safely in the church and chose to place the baby in the manger because it was the warmest place,” Brown said in a statement. Under New York state law, a parent may abandon a newborn anonymously at certain designated safe haven locations, as long as the baby is handed over to an appropriate person. “It appears that the mother, in this case, felt her newborn child would be found safely in the church and chose to place the baby in the manger because it was the warmest place,” Richard Brown said.
Father Christopher Ryan Heanue, one of the priests at the church, said he and others placed a clean towel around the baby while waiting for paramedics to arrive on Monday. Under New York state law, a parent may abandon a newborn anonymously at certain designated locations, as long as the baby is handed over to an appropriate person.
“The beautiful thing is that this woman found in this church– which is supposed to be a home for those in need – this home for her child,” Heanue said. “A young couple in our parish would love to adopt this child and keep this gift in our community. It would make a great Christmas miracle.” Fr Christopher Ryan Heanue, one of the priests at the church, said he and others placed a clean towel around the baby while waiting for paramedics to arrive on Monday.
The healthy baby was taken to a hospital in Queens for evaluation. “The beautiful thing is that this woman found in this church – which is supposed to be a home for those in need – this home for her child,” he said. “A young couple in our parish would love to adopt this child and keep this gift in our community. It would make a great Christmas miracle.”
The healthy baby was taken to a hospital in Queens for an examination.