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Yonkers resident Jaqueline Marleni Perez was arrested after allegedly leaving her newborn girl in the hallway of an apartment building at 32 Chestnut St. in Yonkers, the city's police department announced on Thursday, Feb. 8.
The baby was discovered on Tuesday, Feb. 6 around 8:30 p.m., when officers found the girl wrapped in a blanket in the first-floor hallway of the building near the entryway.
Police and first responders began assessing the newborn and found that her umbilical cord was still attached with a black string wrapped around it. She was immediately taken to an area hospital where she was evaluated and stabilized, police said.
Detectives soon began investigating the abandonment and spent hours reviewing surveillance footage and interviewing witnesses. Thanks to these efforts, investigators were able to identify Perez as the baby's mother, find her, and confirm the circumstances leading up to the abandonment.
According to the department, Perez had given birth to the girl by herself around 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday. She then dressed the girl in a t-shirt, wrapped her in a blanket, and put her in the hallway at around 7:30 p.m.
Around an hour later, a resident of the building found the girl, wrapped her in another blanket, and called police.
Perez was later taken to a hospital to be evaluated because of her unconventional birth before eventually being released. After her arrest, she was charged with abandonment of a child, a felony.
She was later arraigned in Yonkers Criminal Court on Thursday and released on her own recognizance. Under laws restricting bail, her charge is ineligible for bail, police said.
The baby is now in stable condition and is in the custody of Child Protective Services. The case is now being prosecuted by the Westchester County District Attorney's Office.
The situation prompted a response from Yonkers city officials.
"The circumstances that occurred are heartbreaking and unfortunate, but we are thankful the baby is stable and safe," said Mayor Mike Spano, who added, "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. This is a poignant reminder that help, regardless of situation, is available to all of us – don’t be afraid to reach out.”
Yonkers Police Commissioner Christopher Sapienza also gave a statement.
"Criminal investigations involving child victims are often the most difficult to handle, a sentiment that is only amplified when the child is less than one-day-old," Sapienza said.
He added, "We have over six Yonkers Police buildings and 12 Yonkers Fire Department buildings in this city. All of these buildings are “Safe-Haven” locations, in addition to several hospitals and other locations that are designated as appropriate places for parents to legally surrender custody of infants under 30 days old."
This continues to be a developing story. Check back to Daily Voice for updates.
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