Mother who abandoned baby unlikely to face criminal charges

Tips called into police led them to the mother.

By LAURE CIOFFI

VINDICATOR PENNSYLVANIA BUREAU

SHARON, Pa. — A 20-year-old woman who left her newborn in an Irvine Avenue house last week will likely not be charged criminally.

Mercer County District Attorney James Epstein said the police investigation has revealed that the baby may have been alone for only a few minutes and the mother knew a responsible adult was going to find the infant girl.

Epstein stressed Wednesday that the investigation is still ongoing, but no charges are expected.

“The tentative evaluation of the case would be leaning against charging her,” he said.

Police did not reveal the woman’s name but said she is a Sharon resident. Epstein said police found the woman through tips called into the police station.

Her newborn infant, believed to be less than 24 hours old when found Oct. 3, was wrapped in a gray jacket and left on the interior steps of a duplex at 109 S. Irvine Ave.

A Greenville woman entering the house just after 5 p.m. to visit her adult daughter, who lives on the second floor, found the baby, according to police.

Epstein said they have tested the 20-year-old woman to definitely identify her as the baby’s mother. She told police she gave birth to the child while alone and left the infant for only a few minutes knowing someone was going to discover the child.

Epstein said if those details can be verified by investigators, the woman will not face any charges.

“I’ve dealt with a similar situation early in my career and often times we hear the child has been killed or discarded,” Epstein said. “We place a lot of weight in the fact that steps were taken to safeguard this child.”

However, the district attorney urges any woman giving up a child to choose a safe place, preferably a hospital.

The infant girl remains in the custody of Mercer County Children and Youth Services.

cioffi@vindy.com