Newborn Baby Girl Found Abandoned In A Field

Police in Chicago are appealing for the mother of a newborn baby girl abandoned in a field near a housing estate to come forward.  The infant was discovered in a field in the suburban Chicago Heights area. The baby, thought to be just three or four hours old, was found lying in the grass, naked and with her umbilical cord still attached.

Abandoned baby discovered in this open field in Chicago Heights. Medical staff says baby was born 2-3 hours before being found. @cbschicago pic.twitter.com/A80X9iAfoa

— Audrina Bigos (@AudrinaBigos) October 5, 2016

Named "Baby Jane Doe." by police, the newborn was taken to St. James Hospital, where medical experts say she is in good condition. James Turner, the man who heard the baby's cries, said he rarely walks through that particular area so it's a miracle he took that route on the day. When none of his three cars would start, Mr Turner, who is himself a dad, took a shortcut through a nearby field to get to the bus stop that would take him to work. Having stumbled upon the tiny infant, he called 911 at 10.56am. He told ABC7 Chicago:

"It was, like, destined for me to walk through that field. God pointed me in that direction, I'm sure," "She had nothing on her, she was naked, a little blood on her, umbilical cord seemed fresh," he said. "I immediately grabbed my phone. Immediately dialed 911," he said.

Commenting on the discovery, Chief Tom Rogers of Chicago Heights Police Department said: "A lot of times in these situations the mother is scared. There's the Safe Haven Law, a mother can bring a baby to a fire station, a police department, a hospital and there's no questions asked."