Jaqueline Perez: Woman arrested for ditching her infant daughter in a Yonkers apartment building hallway
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YONKERS, NEW YORK: A 21-year-old woman has been arrested for reportedly leaving her newborn baby daughter in a Yonkers apartment building hallway only to be cut loose because of New York’s bail reform laws, police said. On Thursday, February 8, Jaqueline Perez, of Yonkers, was charged with one count of abandonment of a child, as per ABC 7 New York.
The Yonkers Police Department pointed out in a statement that “due to laws restricting bail,” the felony charge against the mother was ineligible for bail. According to police, Perez was arraigned in Yonkers Criminal Court and released on her own recognizance.
Jaqueline Perez's baby was discovered by neighbors
Perez’s baby was discovered by neighbors on the first floor of an apartment building on Chestnut Street on Tuesday evening, February 6. The hours-old infant was wrapped in a blanket and left alone on the cold floor near the entryway. Her umbilical cord was still attached with a black string wrapped around it, according to the police.
When were the authorities informed about the incident?
After interviewing witnesses and reviewing hours of surveillance footage, detectives were able to identify and track down the new mother. They were said to have determined that Perez had given birth to her daughter on her own at around 3.30 pm on Tuesday, February 6. She then dressed the baby in a t-shirt, wrapped her in a blanket and left her in the hallway at around 7.30 pm.
About an hour later, a neighbor found the abandoned baby and called the police.
Jaqueline Perez's newborn daughter is in stable condition
The girl was taken to a hospital where police said she was listed in stable condition as of Thursday, February 8. She remained in the custody of Child Protective Services. Perez was also hospitalized “due to her unconventional childbirth,” the press release stated. She was assessed by medics and later released.
“The circumstances that occurred are heartbreaking and unfortunate, but we are thankful the baby is stable and safe,” said Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano, adding “I commend the compassionate and swift actions of our Yonkers PD in finding the mother, exhibiting concern for her welfare after going through a traumatic and desperate ordeal.”
Police Commissioner Christopher Sapienza reminded the public that under New York’s “Safe Haven” laws, parents can legally surrender babies under 30 days old at any of Yonkers’ police precincts, fire stations or hospitals without facing prosecution. “We hope that this incident sheds light on the proper procedures to follow to avoid what could have been a horrible tragedy,” Sapienza said.
