A passerby found a newborn baby abandoned on the Salado Creek Greenway in Texas on Tuesday, leading to charges against the mother.
Officers confirmed the man, who has not been identified, had discovered the child at the 1900 Block of Austin Highway.
The San Antonio Police Department told Newsweek the man saw 37-year-old Julie Alexander leaving the area before discovering the newborn. He assumed the child belonged to her and she had abandoned the baby on the hiking trail.
The good Samaritan took the child and searched for help. Officers later found Alexander on the trail, where she showed signs of recently giving birth. Both Alexander and the newborn were transported to a nearby hospital for care.
The department arrested Alexander for abandonment and endangerment of a child, a second-degree felony.
A second-degree felony is a serious criminal offense, punishable by 2 to 20 years in state prison and fines of up to $10,000 in Texas. These crimes are more severe than misdemeanors but less serious than first-degree felonies.
In Texas, parents can safely leave their newborn babies at fire stations and other designated locations. This is known as a Safe Haven Law, also known as the Baby Moses Law.
What is Texas' Baby Moses Law?
Enacted in 1999, Texas' Baby Moses Law allows parents to anonymously surrender newborns up to 60 days old.
The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services told Newsweek the law gives parents who are unable to care for their child a safe and legal choice to leave their infant with an employee at a designated safe place—a hospital, fire station, free-standing emergency centers or emergency medical services (EMS) station. The baby will receive medical care and be placed with an emergency provider.
"In Fiscal Year 2024 (Sept 1 to October 31, 2024)–there were 14 children statewide who are classified as a Baby Moses case—of which 2 are from DFPS Region 8, San Antonio Region," the spokesperson told Newsweek.
Once surrendered, the child is placed in the custody of DFPS, which ensures the infant's safety and arranges for adoption if no family members come forward. The law ensures no criminal charges are filed against the parents, as long as the baby is surrendered in accordance with the guidelines.
Since the implementation of the law, 4,524 babies have been safely placed. However, there have also been 1,610 cases of illegal infant abandonment, resulting in 608 babies being found alive and 915 found dead.
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