On Friday, a 25-year-old California mother was arrested and charged with attempted murder and felony child abuse after a newborn was discovered in a trash can outside Los Angeles.
The suspect, Venissa Maldonado, has been apprehended by the Fullerton Police Department.
According to KABC, an employee at a Chevron gas station discovered the infant crying in the restroom of its convenience store.
According to a press release, the Fullerton Police stated that the officers “located a newborn within a trash can inside of the restroom” and began to provide lifesaving measures. Law enforcement reported the child to be in “critical but stable condition” on Thursday.
Authorities were able to track down Maldonado after reviewing surveillance footage and vehicle information.
The Fullerton Police Department reminded the public that in 2006, the Safely Surrendered Baby Law was made permanent in California. Its goal is to save the lives of newborns at risk of abandonment by allowing parents or persons with lawful custody to surrender the infant within the time frame of 72 hours of birth, with no questions asked.