Deputies from Polk County Sheriff’s Office responding to a report in the early hours of Saturday morning about cries outside were surprised when they found an abandoned 6.5lbs infant who they believe was less than an hour old.
The newborn girl, whose placenta was still attached, was found wrapped in a blanket on a small hill near Regal Loop Mobile Home Park off Bailey Road.
Astonishingly, despite freezing temperatures reaching into the 50s overnight nurses reported that she arrived at the hospital healthy and stable.
In an attempt to locate the mother of the infant, deputies used a K-9 unit, drone, Aviation unit, and bloodhound. Authorities also began going door-to-door, to determine if anyone has information that could lead to identifying the woman.
“I have named her Angel Grace Lnu. She is as beautiful as an Angel. It was by the Grace of God she is not dead and Lnu is last name unknown.” Sheriff Grady Judd said.
Adding,
“It was by the Grace of God that we found the abandoned baby girl when we did before exposure to the cold or any animals caused her any harm. She was left in an extremely vulnerable condition, but she’s a strong little girl, and it looks like she’s doing great.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff
Florida has a Safe Haven Law, enacted in 2000, which allows for parents to leave their unharmed newborn child (under a week old) at any Safe Haven facility (hospitals or properly staffed EMS/Fire Station) anonymously, and without fear of prosecution. Parents have to physically hand the baby over and cannot leave them.
If anyone has any information about the mother of this baby, they are asked to call the Polk County Sheriff’s Office at 863-298-6200.
