Abandoned baby investigation raises awareness on Indiana Safe Haven Law INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A newborn baby found abandoned in a tree line near a trail on Indy’s east side has renewed attention on Indiana’s Safe Haven Law. On Friday night, just before 11:30 p.m., Indianapolis Metropoli tan Police Department officers were dispatched to Lace Bark Lane and Long Wharf Drive to check on the welfare of a child. They found a newborn baby had been left at a trail there. The baby was taken to Riley Hospital for Children and was last reported in stable condition. Monica Kelsey, Founder and CEO of Safe Haven Baby Boxes, reminds distressed parents that the state’s Safe Haven Law allows a parent to surrender a newborn to an emergency services provider, without fear of arrest or prosecution, as long as the baby has not been abused. “The Safe Haven Law’s been around for 26 years, where a parent can walk into any fire station, police station, or hospital in the state of Indiana with a newborn child that is 60 days old or younger and surrender that child, no questions asked,” she said. Kelsey’s company makes “safe haven baby boxes” and has placed more than 150 of them throughout Indiana. She says babies can be placed in any of these boxes, and when they are, first responders are immediately alerted. “The baby is in only in the box for… the average is about 2 minutes,” she said. “It’s temperature-regulated on the inside so this baby is literally safe and secure for the couple of minutes that this baby would be in the box, different from when a baby is left in the elements.” When a baby is placed inside one, the Indiana Department of Child Services or an adoption agency then assumes custody of the baby. The parent’s identity is protected. “A parent doesn’t have to talk to anyone, a parent doesn’t have to answer any questions or feel shamed or judged,” Kelsey said. “We don’t want a mother to use a baby box at all. It’s literally a last resort option for these parents… That is what this parent could have done with this child… and this parent then would have been protected. Unfortunately, now that this baby’s been illegally abandoned, this parent is probably looking at prosecution for abandonment.” IMPD is asking anyone with information about the mother, the baby, or what happened, to come forward. Tipsters can remain anonymous. Crime Resources Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana: 317-262-8477 P3tips app | Apple devices | Google Play ...read more read less