Update: Family Changes Story on Abandoned Newborn Baby

OAKLAND, CA — A woman who dropped off a newborn baby at an Oakland hospital this morning and said she had found it abandoned was actually covering for her sister, the baby's mother, according to police.

The woman and a friend dropped off the baby at Highland Hospital shortly before 10 a.m. and told hospital staff they'd found it nearby in the 2600 block of 19th Avenue, police said.

After seeing media reports about the abandonment throughout the morning, the mother and family came forward to police and admitted they made up the story.

The sister thought that the family would get in trouble but wasn't aware of California law protecting them if they surrender the baby, police spokeswoman Officer Johnna Watson said.

Under the state's Safely Surrendered Baby law, a parent or person with lawful custody can safely surrender a baby confidentially and without fear of prosecution within 72 hours of birth, police said.

— Bay City News; Image via Shutterstock

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