A 25-year-old woman is facing charges of attempted murder and child abuse after a newborn baby was found in a gas station trash can in Fullerton on Thursday, police said.
Fullerton Police responded to a Chevron gas station on the 900 block of West Orangethorpe Avenue around 3:30 p.m. A store clerk discovered the abandoned infant inside a restroom trash bin, officers said.
Authorities transported the baby to a local hospital after lifesaving measures were implemented.
The child’s parents were nowhere to be found, and it’s unclear whether the baby was born inside the gas station.
Through their investigation, police identified Venissa Maldonado of Fullerton and arrested her in the 400 block of West Orangethorpe Avenue at about 1:45 a.m. Friday, police said in a news release.
She faces charges of attempted murder and felony child abuse, police said.
The baby is confirmed to be in critical, but stable condition as of Thursday night, police said.
The investigation remains ongoing.
The Safely Surrendered Baby Law was signed into state law in January 2006. The law aims to save the lives of newborn infants at risk of abandonment by encouraging parents or those with lawful custody to safely surrender an infant within 72 hours of birth, with no questions asked.
The law requires the baby be taken to a public or private hospital, designated fire station or other safe surrender site designated by the County Board of Supervisors.
Anyone with additional information is asked to contact Detective Marcus Saenz at 714-738-5361.
Anonymous tips can be submitted to Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS or online at occrimestoppers.org.