Woman, 25, Charged With Abandoning Baby In Trash Can At Gas Station

ORANGE COUNTY, CA — A 25-year-old Fullerton woman was charged Tuesday with abandoning her infant son in trash can at a Chevron gas station.

Vanissa Maldonado was charged with attempted murder and child abuse and endangerment, both felonies.

Fullerton Police officers were dispatched at around 3:30 p.m. Thursday to a Chevron gas station in the 900 block of Orangethorpe Avenue, near Euclid Street, regarding a possible abandoned newborn inside of a restroom, police Sgt. Ryan O'Neil said.

Police who found the baby started lifesaving measures to save the infant's life before calling paramedics from the Fullerton Fire Department, who took the baby to a hospital in critical but stable condition, according to a previous Patch report.

"After conducting a thorough investigation, which included surveillance footage and possible suspect vehicle information, detectives served a search warrant at approximately 1:45 a.m. (Friday) in the 400 block of W. Orangethorpe Avenue," O'Neil said.

The state has a law that allows a parent to give up an infant within 72 hours with no questions asked if the infant is taken to a public or private hospital or a fire station.

City News Service contributed to this report.