Experts say law could have prevented baby abandonment

AUSTIN (KXAN) – Police say they have yet to make any charges in the Saturday baby abandonment case. 

On Saturday afternoon, a baby was found in a north Austin dumpster. APD Officer Townsend said the baby was found safe in the 8600 block of North Lamar Boulevard with no health issues present.

“She came into custody with [Texas Department of Family and Protective Services] on Saturday. She was checked out by the hospital. At this time, we have no medical concerns, and upon discharge, she will be going into care,” said Misty Enos, supervisor of investigations at DFPS.

DFPS said child abandonment doesn’t happen often. Texas lawmakers passed the Safe Haven Law in 1999, giving parents unable to care for their child the option to leave them unharmed at hospitals, fire stations or EMS stations without legal consequences.

“We have a lot of resources for these women, and we can often help negate a situation like [Saturday’s],” Enos said.

One of those resources is the Baby Moses Hotline, where parents in crisis can receive facts about the law and information about other resources that may help them.

“We always want to encourage anyone who comes into a situation that seems daunting or seems like they can’t fix it on their own, to reach out [and] maybe find a different result,” Enos continued. 

DFPS said so far in 2025, there have been 11 Safe Haven surrenders. There were 14 in 2024.

“As a person who was abandoned as an infant, my life was saved so that today I may save others,” said Monica Kelsey, CEO of Safe Haven Baby Boxes.

In 2023, the Texas Safe Haven Law was amended to include baby boxes — secure drop-off sites where parents in crisis can safely leave their babies. There are several in Texas, but none in Austin, Kelsey said.

“The baby box is a last resort option for parents, and the one thing that we consistently hear from them is that they want anonymity. They don’t want anybody to see them. They don’t want to talk to anyone for fear of judgment and shame,” Kelsey said.

Kelsey said education about these options is key.

“We know that these babies that are being put in our boxes are going to live, they’re going to survive, and they’re going to go on to have a happy and healthy family,” she said.