A woman called Connecticut State Police at around 4:17 p.m. local time on Wednesday to report a man placing an infant on the hood of her parked car in the town of Mansfield.
When she returned to her car, the man got into a dark-colored vehicle and fled the area, according to police.
The baby was taken to a local hospital for treatment, and was found to be between 28 to 30 weeks old, meaning it was premature.
A baby is considered premature when it is born at 37 weeks, and extremely premature at 28 weeks. The earlier a baby is born, the higher their chance of suffering health complications, with babies born before 23 weeks surviving in only rare cases. However, medical advances in recent years have improved the chances of survival for preterm babies.
Connecticut State Police’s Eastern District Major Crime Squad responded to the call and launched an investigation.
According to police, the man was Hispanic, heavy-set, and had short black hair. He was wearing a black long-sleeved T-shirt and black jogger pants.
Anyone with information is asked to contact State Police Trooper Matthew Hogan on Matthew.hogan@ct.gov or (860) 896-3236.
All 50 states, as well as Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico, have what are known as Safe Haven Laws. The details of laws differ by state, but generally mean that a baby can be given up at a safe location without the parents getting into trouble.
In Connecticut, a parent can voluntarily give up custody of an infant who is 30 days old or younger to nursing staff at an emergency room without being arrested for abandonment. However, the parent can be arrested the baby has been abused or neglected.
After 24 hours, the Department of Children and Families is contacted to take custody of the child. A court hearing will then take place to legally end the parent’s rights so the child can be put up for adoption.
Jose Pagan lives in the area where the baby was abandoned on Wednesday and told WFSB police vehicles were parked outside his home for five or six hours. Officials asked him to check his home security cameras that are directed towards the road. Pagan he didn’t see anything on the cameras.
“Last night I can’t sleep. Thinking about the baby. Watching the window, thinking somebody is right there,” Pagan said.
