Weeks later, Chamblee police still need help in the case of a newborn boy found abandoned at a Buford Highway clinic.
Capt. Ernesto Ford said Monday the agency has no leads and needs the public’s help finding the parents or whoever left the child.
The boy was found late last month at Family Medical Clinic by an overnight cleaning crew. The child was zipped up in a bag and still had the umbilical cord attached.
“It’s a baby in that bag!” 64-year-old Horace Thomas screamed after hearing the child crying.
He dialed 911 and waited as police arrived and pulled out the abandoned newborn boy, who was wrapped in a sweatshirt.
He was tiny, just 4.86 pounds, and appeared premature. He was rushed to a nearby children’s hospital and was taken into the custody of the Division of Family and Children Services.
From surveillance footage and interviews, police determined that the child must’ve been at the clinic in the bag for about 18 hours.
Dr. Sudah Challa, who runs the Buford Highway clinic, had seen the bag outside at about 7:45 a.m. Wednesday, but apparently thought nothing of it, a police report said.
RELATED: DeKalb triple homicide victims were shot 'numerous times,' police say
RELATED: Family wants $30 million after I-20 road buckling paralyzes driver
RELATED: Prosecutor says mother told hairdresser 'no rush' as baby died in hot car
A worker told police she found the bag on top of a box outside around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday. She brought it inside.
Employees told police they heard nothing before locking up and leaving for the night.
Police have said whoever left the child is likely to face charges of child cruelty by neglect.
Georgia has a “safe haven” law that allows a legal way to abandon newborns within seven days, but the mother has to give her name and other information and leave the child with health care workers, face-to-face.
About the Author
