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By Hollie Silverman
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A newborn baby was found alive but in critical condition after being left alone for several days beside its dead mother inside a Phoenix apartment, an emotional video posted on Friday to Facebook by the Phoenix Police Department showed.
The Context
Questions remain about the social support networks available to new mothers and the challenges of identifying when parental absence may indicate an emergency.
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Authorities highlighted that the incident required interagency collaboration, with detectives and the Department of Child Safety coordinating to safeguard the baby and manage the investigation.
The circumstances also highlight the role of close community observation as a neighbor's report ultimately spurred the rescue operation.
Officers responded to a welfare check after neighbors hadn’t seen or heard from a mother and her newborn for several days. Inside the home, they...
What To Know
Officers responded to the residence on May 14 to perform a welfare check following concerns from a neighbor who had not seen or heard from the mom in several days.
Body worn camera video shows the officers first seeing the emaciated baby through a window.
When looking through the window, one officer is heard saying, "The baby's here," followed by "Yea the baby's here and the baby is still alive."
The officers both leave the window, with one saying, "Let me see if I can get in. I don't know" before he busts down a door.
One officer softly says hi to the baby as he picks it up and is heard whispering, "It's gonna be OK" as he puts the baby in a stroller and takes it out to the ambulance.
When they reach the ambulance, the officer tells emergency responders, "Mom's dead. The baby's probably been there by itself for at least a week."
Police described the infant as "dehydrated and clinging to life." The police did not release the woman's identity.
Emergency responders transported the baby to a hospital where physicians treated it for dehydration and malnutrition.
Police stated that the child's medical condition "greatly improved" after receiving care, specifying that the newborn was expected to make a full recovery.
The Phoenix Police Department transferred the case to its detective division, while the Arizona Department of Child Safety began working with family members and law enforcement.
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What People Are Saying
The Phoenix Police Department wrote in its Facebook post on Friday: "Officers responded to a welfare check after neighbors hadn't seen or heard from a mother and her newborn for several days. Inside the home, they discovered the mother had passed away and her baby was still alive, severely dehydrated and clinging to life. Officers quickly got the infant help, and the baby was taken to a nearby hospital to recover. The baby was taken to the hospital in critical condition. We are happy to report, the infant's condition has improved greatly, and they're expected to survive."
What Happens Next?
The Office of the Medical Examiner is investigating the cause and circumstances of the mother's death, the Arizona Republic reported.
Detectives are also investigating while the Department of Child Safety remains involved with the newborn's care and placement.
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