Hamden Woman Accused Of Abandoning Baby In Dumpster

NEW HAVEN, CT — A 24-year-old Hamden woman was accused of abandoning an 8-month-old girl in a Newhallville dumpster Monday, police said.

New Haven police Capt. Anthony Duff said Andiana Velez, who was the child's babysitter, also faces charges for assaulting the child’s 21-year-old mother earlier in the day.

Velez was charged with risk of injury to a child, second-degree assault and first-degree reckless endangerment, Duff said. Held on $250,000 bail, she's due in New Haven Superior Court Tuesday.

The baby had burns on her hands and was hospitalized in stable condition at Yale New Haven Children's Hospital, Duff said.

Duff said New Haven police and the state Department of Children and Families are investigating the cause of the child’s injuries. Investigators have not yet determined who is responsible for the infant’s burn injuries.

The baby was found by maintenance workers Monday around 2 p.m. at the Presidential Gardens apartment complex, police said.

When Patch was on scene around 3:30 p.m., investigators had located the child's mother, Duff said.

Police asked that anyone with information on the case call investigators at 203-946-6304.