MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Police and rescue responded to a report of a newborn baby found abandoned at an apartment complex in Binghampton on Wednesday.
Police said the baby was found by a tenant outside of their unit in the 2900 block of Mimosa near Tillman around 4:10 p.m.
People who live in the area said the baby was naked.
Thankfully, police said the baby was taken to Le Bonheur in non-critical condition.
Edison Hagan, who lives nearby, couldn’t believe something like this happened in his neighborhood.
“I’ve never seen it myself personally I’ve only heard stories of babies left in trash cans and things and such but not so close to where you be at everyday,” he said. “Just thank God somebody found the baby and the baby is safe.”
Investigators haven’t said who abandoned the baby or why but they did say the child’s mother has been found and is not facing charges at this time.
WREG heard one woman yell at another outside an apartment that the police were focusing on.
“It was her baby. Y’all gonna lock her up?” the woman said. “You lied! You did all of that! You should have told me!”
According to the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services, the Tennessee Safe Haven law allows mothers of newborns to surrender unharmed babies to designated facilities within two weeks of birth without fear of being prosecuted. It was enacted to reduce the number of unsafe abandonment of babies.
Memphis Police have not said if the law applies in this case. Investigators also haven’t said if one or both of the child’s parents will face charges.
At any rate, Hagan is preaching understanding over punishment.
“You know, everybody’s so quick to judge and condemn people you know what I’m saying we’ve been in situations before where we didn’t know what to do. We have made decisions on impulse or emotion,” he said. “It’s the holidays. It’s the season for perpetual hope.”
WREG will update this breaking news as investigators release more information.