Mother of Baby Left in Church Nativity Scene Walks Away Without Being Charged

A mother left her newborn baby inside of a Christmas manger inside of a New York City church. The other layer to this story is that the woman will not be prosecuted according to authorities.

Queens District Attorney Richard Brown stated, "After a full review of all facts and circumstances surrounding the discovery of a newborn infant this past Monday in crèche inside a Holy Child Jesus Church in the Richmond Hill section of Queens County – including locating and interviewing the mother – my office has determined that no criminal prosecution of the child's mother is warranted."

The newborn was found in the church around 11:30 a.m. by a custodian after he ran out for his lunch break according to BBC. He found the baby crying around 1 p.m., shortly after returning to the church. He noticed that no one else was around. The baby was wrapped in towels, laying in a manger in a nativity scene in the front of the church. The church pastor, Christopher Heanue, announced on Facebook the surprise of the five-pound baby boy.

Police reported that the baby was healthy upon medical examination at a local hospital.

What makes this all possible for the mother to not face any charges? Fox News reports that, "New York has a so-called safe haven law that states a newborn can be dropped off anonymously at a church, hospital, police or fire station without fear of prosecution."

Another law, known as the Abandoned Infant Protection Act, requires that the child be with someone or to inform authorities immediately.

Brown states, "It appears that the mother, in this case, felt her newborn child would be found safely in the church and chose to place the baby in the manger because it was the warmest place in the church, and further she returned the following morning to make certain that the baby had been found."