New info in baby case
The Madera County Sheriff’s Office has released new information in the incident of the newborn baby girl abandoned in near- freezing temperatures in the middle of the roadway Monday about 4 a.m. on Avenue 13 1/2 in the Madera Ranchos.
The baby remains in Valley Children’s Hospital in good condition, according to reports, but will shortly be transferred to a foster home by Child Protective Services. A DNA swab has been obtained to help identify the mother, they said.
The young woman alleged to have abandoned the baby is described as Hispanic, 5 feet, two inches tall, 120 pounds with a slender build. The vehicle the woman was driving was possibly a dark blue or gray KIA or Hyundai, and not the white SUV originally reported.
Sheriff Jay Varney told news crews that after deputies re-interviewed the man who was out walking and was first approached by the young woman they were able to piece together a few more details on the incident and believe they have a new description of the mother and vehicle.
“She mentioned to the person who was walking she wasn’t familiar with the area,” Varney said. “Under stress sometimes people will say something that is accurate, sometimes not. But you’d have to believe if she was from the area she would have to know to go directly to the hospital,” he said.
The woman reportedly first drove past the man, who was out walking, before turning around and then approaching him, and asking him to take her baby. The woman appeared to be alone in the vehicle, according to detectives, and then apparently turned south on Road 36, in the direction of the hospital.
It was believed to be about then when she placed the newborn in the path of traffic near the center double yellow line on the dark country road. The baby was dressed only in a wet, soiled pajama with no diaper.
The screaming infant was fortunately seen a few minutes later by a man in his 20s out delivering newspapers, who picked her up and called 911.
Deputies are requesting anyone with surveillance cameras in the area to please check the cameras.
“At least we might be able to narrow down the make and model, even if we can’t get the license plate number,” Varney said.
Please call the Madera County Sheriff’s detective department at 675-7770 with any new information.
Valley Crime Stoppers pays up to $3,000 for anonymous information made to them, either by phone to 498-STOP or on their website, for information leading to an arrest and a conviction in a crime.
