A newborn baby, umbilical cord still attached, was found abandoned on a bridge in Katy, Texas, over the weekend. The premature girl, with a fresh placenta, was discovered by a couple walking with their child and dogs, narrowly escaping potential fatal heat exposure.
Discovery and rescue
Sergeant Juan Garcia of the Harris County Sheriff’s Department reported that the baby was found at Bear Creek, just west of Houston, on Saturday, June 15. The couple, Daniela Fedele and Luis Marin, were returning from their walk when they spotted the newborn.
“We were coming back from our walk this morning, heading home because it was really hot, when I went ahead and looked closer, that’s when I noticed a little baby with like her two feet moving,” Daniela Fedele told NBC News affiliate KPRC 2. “I thought I was hallucinating! A baby, just lying there? This can’t be real.”
Luis Marin added, “I hold it. The baby opens their eyes to me, looked at me. We make eye contact. And I’m like, how can somebody just do this?”
Surveillance footage and suspect
CCTV footage revealed the suspect walking deliberately to the bridge with the child, setting the baby down, and then sprinting away. The high temperatures in the area reached up to 95°F (35°C), making the situation particularly dire for the infant.
Sergeant Garcia praised the couple for their vigilance and timely intervention. “Their attention to detail and quick actions saved the child’s life,” Garcia said. The authorities are continuing to investigate the incident and are urging anyone with information to come forward.