ORLANDO, Fla. — Authorities in Orange County are investigating how an abandoned newborn in a box ended up on someone's apartment doorstep.
- Newborn found in shoe box outside apartment
- Neighbor heard baby crying, called authorities
- Orange County Sheriff's Office is investigating
Orange County Sheriff's Office deputies are trying to figure out who dropped off the newborn boy at around 1:05 p.m. Saturday at the Fusion Apartments, near Silver Star and North Hiawassee in Orlando.
The baby appeared to be in good condition and was about 24 hours old.
Authorities say someone found the baby at the apartment complex after a neighbor heard a baby crying and saw the boy in a box on a doorstep.
Resident Aireal Piner was there when law enforcement arrived.
"It was in a Converse shoe box. No clothes on, nothing. The baby was just naked. How do you even get your 1-day-old baby out of the hospital that quick? No clothes on, no diaper. You don’t even have the decency to put your baby in a diaper? It's just sickening," Piner said.
The box also had a note.
"It was basically saying could you take care of this baby? I couldn’t take care of the baby," Piner said.
That person called 911. Orange County firefighters showed up and took the child to AdventHealth Orlando.
Officials want to remind people about Florida's "safe haven" law, which states that anyone can bring an unwanted newborn to a hospital or fire station with no questions asked and no criminal charges.
However, because the baby wasn't left at one of those safe-haven locations, charges could be filed if deputies find out who left the baby and investigate.
Other residents expressed shocked.
"You don't leave a 24-hour-old baby. It's shocking," said Al Ves-Lazaro, a parent of six.
Ves-Lazaro also is an ice cream vendor and comes to the complex every day. He drove up and heard the news.
"It's sad, very sad," Ves-Lazaro said.
