The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

Local News

October 4, 2007

Abandoned tot is in good health

Youth Services has temporary custody

By Courtney Anderson

SHARON — A baby girl found Wednesday abandoned at a South Irvine Avenue home appears to be in good health, Sharon Police Chief Mike Menster said Thursday.

That’s the most important thing right now, Menster said.

“This could’ve ended a lot differently,” he said, adding that it’s very fortunate the child seems to be fine.

The infant, whom police are calling “Baby Jane Doe,” was taken to the hospital of Sharon Regional Health System where she is under observation, Menster said.

Mercer County Children and Youth Services has temporary custody of the baby, who Menster said was about 24 hours old when she was found at 5:11 p.m. Thursday.

A Greenville woman visiting relatives at 109 S. Irvine found a bundle inside a common foyer at the duplex.

The woman, whose identity Menster declined to release, heard a noise and thought it might be a cat. But she instead found the infant wrapped in a windbreaker, Menster said.

There seems to be no connection between the baby and the home where she was left, Menster said.

Menster said officials aren’t sure yet of the infant’s race. And while he said he couldn’t go into detail, the condition of the baby leads them to believe she was not born in a hospital.

Under Pennsylvania law, a parent can leave a newborn at a hospital without criminal liability unless there’s evidence of abuse, Menster said. The safe haven law was intended to keep parents from abandoning infants in unsafe environments, Menster said.

Baby Jane will remain in the hospital until doctors decide it’s not necessary, Menster said.

In a news release, CYS Director Mary Ann Daniel said the law does not allow her to comment on the case.

However, she explained that, in general, when a child under similar circumstances is brought to the agency’s attention by police, CYS petitions a Mercer County Court of Common Pleas judge for safe placement of the child.

In the nearly 20 years Menster has worked on the Sharon force, he said he can’t recall another child being abandoned like that.

Menster said he couldn’t speculate as to what would happen if someone comes forward to claim the baby. There are too many variables to say what charges might be filed, if any, he said.

“It’s not a black and white issue,” Menster said.

Authorities’ actions would depend on the outcome of the investigation, he said.

Menster also said he couldn’t speculate as to why someone would leave a baby. “There could be a hundred different reasons.”

He said police spent a good part of Wednesday night canvassing the neighborhood and they continue to interview people.

“We’re looking into all possibilities,” Menster said, adding that it’s not an easy task.

Police are asking anyone with information about the infant to call them at 724-983-3232.

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