Police in New York City have charged a 30-year-old woman, Assa Diawara, with abandoning a newborn child at a subway stop. The baby, found with an umbilical cord still attached, was discovered on Monday morning at Penn Station in Manhattan. Authorities confirmed the infant was alive and in good condition when first responders arrived. The child was transported to Bellevue Hospital for medical evaluation.
Diawara was arrested early Wednesday morning on charges of child abandonment and endangering the welfare of a child. Surveillance footage from the subway station captured the woman carrying the baby before she allegedly left the child unattended. Police have released a photo of Diawara and are asking the public for help identifying her. The baby’s parents have not yet been identified, and authorities are seeking information from the community to locate the child’s family.
According to New York’s Safe Haven Law, parents can surrender newborns at designated locations such as hospitals, police stations, or fire stations without facing criminal charges. The law aims to protect children from abandonment while ensuring they receive necessary care. However, this case has raised questions about the effectiveness of the law and the circumstances under which it is applied. Diawara’s arrest has reignited debates about the legal and ethical responsibilities of parents in cases of child abandonment.
Authorities have not disclosed any details about the baby’s medical condition, but the infant was reported to be in stable condition. The incident has sparked public concern about child welfare and the ability of law enforcement and community networks to respond to such crises. As investigations continue, the focus remains on identifying the child’s parents and understanding the motivations behind the abandonment.