By Shawntaye Hopkins, The Lexington Herald-Leader, Ky.
Jul. 2–Lexington police are investigating after a newborn was found Wednesday morning on the front porch of a home off Richmond Road.
A woman who lives on the 100 block of Lincoln Avenue found the baby boy as she was leaving for work about 8:30 a.m. He was lying in a laundry basket wrapped in blankets with a note from a parent asking the homeowner to take care of the child.
Lexington police have not found the baby’s parents.
The newborn, who appears to be about 2 or 3 days old, was taken to a local hospital, but he seemed healthy Wednesday morning, Lexington police said. The Cabinet for Families and Children will care for the baby after he is released from the hospital.
“It was very apparent that she wanted the baby to be taken care of,” Lexington police Officer Ann Gutierrez said of the boy’s mother.
It is not clear how long the baby was on the porch.
At the hospital’s request, Gutierrez declined to say which hospital is treating the child. But doctors do not think the baby was born in a hospital.
Gutierrez said it is legal to anonymously leave a child at a hospital or police station, but statutes prevent adults from intentionally abandoning minors and placing them at risk of injury.
Investigators will have to decide whether to place charges against the mother if she’s located, Gutierrez said, adding that it doesn’t look as if the mother wanted to harm the child.
Gutierrez said it would be nice to see the mother get help from social services and the community to raise the child.
Lexington police have requested that anyone with information about the newborn call (859) 258-3690.
Reach Shawntaye Hopkins (859) 231-1386 or 1-800-950-6397, Ext. 1386.
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