JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- On the steps of a vacant apartment in the Huntington apartment complex in Arlington, a neighbor made an unnerving discovery Wednesday.
"Came home around 5:30, and noticed something in a towel, and it was moving around," said Melissa Bujeda with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office. "It didn't seem right. She was with her kids. It sort of threw them off. They were scared. And then she realized it was a baby."
The neighbor called police. Doctors determined the little girl was just two hours old, abandoned and alone.
"It appears to be full term. There's nothing wrong with the baby," said Bujeda.
Now, they have to find out to whom the baby belongs. Florida does have what's called a "Safe Haven" law. It allows a child 7 days or younger to be left at a hospital or fire station, with no questions asked. But because this baby was left on a doorstep, whoever is responsible could be charged with felony child neglect.
Bujeda said, "Obviously we don't know what we have here. We don't know why the person did this. So we need to answer all of those questions."
The Department of Children and Families is also investigating. The baby will remain in state custody, unless the investigation uncovers a stable relative willing to take care of the child.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 866-845-TIPS.
