Mom Of Abandoned Lakewood Baby Formally Charged

LAKEWOOD, WA - The mother of a baby found abandoned in a yard here early Monday morning has been formally charged with second-degree child abandonment. Jessica M. Hanson, 31, was arrested on Wednesday after being released from St. Clare Hospital. Although the baby was found Monday, police were waiting until she was discharged from the hospital to arrest her.

Hanson pleaded not guilt to the charge on Thursday, and she is being held on a $25,000 bond.

The baby was found abandoned in a yard along the 8500 block of John Dower Road Southeast around 1:30 a.m. Monday in Lakewood. Police released images of the infant boy in an effort to find the parents.

By Monday afternoon, police had located Hanson at the hospital. She told them that she had taken methamphetamine and was paranoid at the time she left the baby, police said. She was brought to the hospital Monday morning after being found wandering around in Lakewood.

The infant's father was not with the mother when the baby was abandoned. However, he was taken into custody on an outstanding misdemeanor warrant, Lakewood police said.

The infant was unharmed and was placed into custody of Child Protective Services.

Image via Lakewood police