Woman who reported finding baby in wooded area actually gave birth to newborn, sheriff says

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Thursday, September 13, 2018
Woman who had baby lied about finding newborn in wooded area
ABC13's Charly Edsitty reports on new developments in a reported abandoned baby in a wooded area.

HOUSTON -- The woman who reported finding an abandoned newborn in a north Harris County wooded area in Texas on Wednesday was actually the one who gave birth to the baby, the county sheriff said.

Sheriff Ed Gonzalez revealed new details hours after deputies were called to the 15400 block of Kuykendahl Road for what was originally reported as the discovery of an hours-old child with her umbilical cord still attached.

"The initial reportee is actually the one who had delivered the infant. She had reported the infant was found here. That was concocted. That was not accurate," Gonzalez said. "We believe the birth occurred inside an apartment."

Gonzalez added they are investigating what happened and why she would make the story up.

Harris Co. Sheriff Ed Gonzalez gives new details on a newborn baby who was purportedly found abandoned in a wooded area.

The child was sent to Texas Children's Hospital in good condition.

The sheriff's office originally received word at around 1:45 p.m. of a woman passing by an area where the child was crying. Deputies were told the woman took the child back to her apartment to clean her up.

They were told the woman called a hospital on what to do, and medical personnel advised her to call 911.

EMS workers arrived and gave the child fluids because she appeared to be dehydrated, the sheriff's office said.

Gonzalez said the sheriff's office is looking into what charges, if any, would be applicable in the case. He added the wooded area part of the story never happened.

The girl's mother has not been identified. Her age was also not disclosed.