Newborn Baby Found Abandoned In Silver Spring Woods, Mom ID'd: PD

SILVER SPRING, MD — The mother of a newborn baby girl found abandoned in the woods has been identified, according to police. She is receiving medical care at a hospital. Authorities have not revealed how and where they found the mother.

(Original post) SILVER SPRING, MD — A newborn baby girl was found abandoned in a wooded area of Silver Spring on Friday after being born several hours early, according to authorities.

Montgomery County Police said it happened around 5 p.m. A man was walking in the 10000 block of Tenbrook Dr. when he heard a baby crying. He went to investigate the sound and found a naked baby about 10 feet from the sidewalk in the woods.

The baby girl was taken to a local hospital, where she is in stable condition, police said. Health-care workers say the baby may be Hispanic and was born a few hours before she was found.

Anyone with information about this baby should call the Special Victims Investigations Division at 240-773-5400 (press option 3).

The Montgomery County Police Department is also reminding residents of Maryland's Safe Haven law:

"In Maryland, no one ever has to abandon a newborn baby. Under the Safe Haven law, a distressed parent who is unable or unwilling to care for their infant can safely give up custody of their baby, no questions asked. Newborns can be left at hospitals or law enforcement stations, some of which are listed below (click link). A parent (or another adult with the approval of the mother) has up to 10 days from the birth to invoke Safe Haven anonymously and safely leave a baby with a responsible adult at a designated location. A person who invokes Safe Haven is immune from civil liability or criminal prosecution provided the child is unharmed. If you have questions about Maryland's Safe Haven law, call the Department of Human Resources at 800-332-6347 or your local department of social services."