1 Year Later, Infant Left to Die Finally Gets Funeral

A baby boy abandoned in a plastic bag by his 18-year-old mother will finally be laid to rest Friday.

Baby Angel Antonio, born April 19, 2014 was left in a gangway on Hamlin Avenue in Chicago, where he later died. Now more than a year later, organization Rest in His Arms has arranged a funeral and burial for the infant.

Chicago police from the 25th district who worked this case will serve as pall bearers and provide a police escort to the 10 a.m. service at St. Hyacinth Basilica, 3636 West Wolfram St. in Chicago. He will be buried at All Saints Catholic Cemetery, 700 N. River Road, in Des Plaines.

In 2001 Illinois enacted the Abandoned Newborn Infant Protection Act. Since then 106 babies have been legally relinquished and placed in loving homes.

“The law is simple and works when people know about it,” said Dawn Geras, president of Save Abandoned Babies Foundation. “However,” she added, “Counting Baby Angel Antonio, there have been 72 infants discarded, and 35 of them did not survive. Awareness of the Safe Haven law can ensure that no parent feels stuck in a situation with an unwanted baby, and maybe prevent more funerals for babies”.

The Baby Safe Haven law offers a responsible option to unsafe, illegal infant abandonment as in the case of Baby Angel Antonio. An unharmed newborn, 30 days old or younger, may legally be handed to personnel at a designated Safe Haven. No questions need to be answered. Illinois Safe Havens include hospitals, emergency medical care facilities, staffed fire stations and police.