Abandoned baby found in northwest Harris County to remain hospitalized, state officials say

Authorities are searching for a man caught on camera leaving the baby girl wrapped in a towel with her umbilical cord still attached.

HARRIS COUNTY, Texas — A newborn girl who was found abandoned in northwest Harris County on Saturday morning is said to be doing OK, according to the Texas Department of Family Protective Services.

The Harris County Sheriff’s Office said the baby was found in good condition and will remain hospitalized as they try to locate her family.

Authorities are searching for a man caught on camera leaving the baby girl wrapped in a towel with her umbilical cord still attached. The child was found just before 9 a.m. on Casa Martin Drive near Bear Creek. Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said they're looking for a Hispanic or white man with a slim build and fair complexion. He has black hair and was holding the infant. He was wearing a black shirt and possibly gray pants. He was on foot along the Plantation Lakes walking trail.

Harris County investigators said they're thankful for the people who found her before it was too late.

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"The baby was a newborn ... still had, you know, fresh placenta on the baby, so it was freshly born this morning," said Harris County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Juan Garcia, who works with the Child Abuse Unit.

A surveillance video shared with KHOU 11 News by a neighbor showed a couple running to pick up the baby and a short time later flagging down first responders.

"She's very emotional because she has a child of her own. And I praise her. I said, you know, 'you’re at the right place at the right time,'" Garcia said.

The couple told officials they saw the man run from the scene. The surveillance video shows the man walking to the bridge and placing something on the ground before running away. Two minutes later, the couple comes into the frame. First responders took the infant to Methodist Hospital in Katy where she is listed in good condition.

"Still a little disheartening that a baby got left. It’s hot," Brittany Barnes said.

Barnes was coming to visit her mother. When she pulled up, she was shocked by the deputies and crime scene tape.

"Somebody must’ve really been going through something to have left their child there. When I found out the baby was OK. It was a reliever," she said.

Investigators said cases of abandoning infants like this are rare and it should never be the choice. Instead, surrender the baby to a fire station or hospital.

"The two witnesses that were thankfully walking on the trail with their daughter and their dogs were a blessing," Garcia said.

About the 'safe haven law' or 'Baby Moses' law in Texas

From Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) —
If you have a newborn that you're unable to care for, you can bring your baby to a designated safe place with no questions asked. The Safe Haven law, also known as the Baby Moses law, gives parents who are unable to care for their child a safe and legal choice to leave their infant with an employee at a designated safe place—a hospital, fire station, free-standing emergency centers or emergency medical services (EMS) station. Then, your baby will receive medical care and be placed with an emergency provider.

Information for Parents

If you're thinking about bringing your baby to a designated Safe Haven, please read the information below:

• Your baby must be 60 days old or younger and unharmed and safe.
• You may take your baby to any hospital, fire station, or emergency medical services (EMS) station in Texas.
• You need to give your baby to an employee who works at one of these safe places and tell this person that you want to leave your baby at a Safe Haven.
• You may be asked by an employee for family or medical history to make sure that your baby receives the care they need.
• If you leave your baby at a fire or EMS station, your baby may be taken to a hospital to receive any medical attention they need. Remember, If you leave your unharmed infant at a Safe Haven, you will not be prosecuted for abandonment or neglect.

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