A newborn boy was found in a dumpster behind an apartment complex in southwest Houston on Sunday. The discovery was made by a man who heard the baby’s cries and alerted the police around 2 p.m. The infant, whose skin was pink and hair wet, was seen being rescued by emergency services and swaddled in a blanket in a video obtained by a local news outlet.
Upon arrival, the police found the baby responsive and moving his hands. The infant was subsequently taken to a hospital where he was found to be in good health. He is now under the care of Child Protective Services.
On Tuesday afternoon, investigators from the Houston Police Department were seen focusing their attention on a nearby food truck. They were seen taking photographs and interviewing individuals identified as employees and owners of the truck, which had been parked at the location for approximately three months, according to the apartment manager.
The police are continuing their investigation to identify the person responsible for abandoning the baby. A request for more information sent to the police department via email has yet to be responded to.
In a similar incident, another baby was found abandoned in Pasadena, a suburb of Houston, just a few hours earlier. The Pasadena Police Department received a call around 4:15 a.m. from a man identifying himself as the father of the baby. He claimed to be experiencing a mental health crisis and was seeking a safe place to leave his child. The baby was later found in a car seat next to a dumpster by a restaurant. The child was reported to be healthy and in good condition by child services.
The father appeared in court on Tuesday, facing charges of assault of a family member and child abandonment. He is expected to make another court appearance on Wednesday.
Earlier this year, a third baby was reportedly abandoned on a walking trail, believed to be just hours old. Texas’ Safe Haven law, also known as the Baby Moses law, allows parents to leave a baby in a safe place such as a hospital or fire station without facing prosecution for abandonment or neglect. The law stipulates that the baby must be under 60 days old, unharmed, and left with an employee of these safe places. The law aims to provide parents who are unable to care for their child a safe and legal choice.