The mother of a newborn baby who had been found buried alive near a bike path in Compton, Calif., has been arrested, authorities announced Sunday night. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department revealed on Facebook that the woman was arrested late last night, but declined to release her identity since the investigation was still ongoing.
On the day after Thanksgiving, authorities said they received reports of a baby crying from two sisters walking on the bike path near a riverbed at 136th Street and Slater Avenue. Two sheriff's deputies soon arrived at the scene at about 4 p.m., where they began their search.
"The cry that I heard, as a father, was more of a cry for help, I'm hungry, but not like I'm injured and hurt," Deputy Adam Collette said, according to the Los Angeles Times. "I know what I was hearing, but I didn't believe it."
Collette and his partner, Deputy David Perry, removed pieces of asphalt and rubble, eventually finding the infant hidden under the path debris. She was wrapped in a hospital blanket but was found to be "cold to the touch."
Fire crews attended to the child until she was taken to a local hospital where she remains in stable condition while under observation, according to the Associated Press.
Authorities had been searching for the mother since the infant's discovery, and encouraged her to come forward. This lasted until she was confirmed by Sheriff's Deputy Juanita Navarro-Suarez on Sunday to have been located, identified and arrested, but declined to give any further information.
The baby will eventually be put up for adoption.
In the meantime, information such as the mother's identity, the status of the child and the circumstances of the arrest will be made public via a news conference to be held Monday morning local time.
