Workers on the night shift at a bakery heard screams coming from an alley early Friday morning. They ran outside and found a woman in labor near a loading dock in an industrial area of Ventura.
When they arrived on the scene around 1 a.m. in the 4200 block of Transport Street, witnesses said the woman cut the umbilical cord, placed the newborn on the ground and fled into the dark.
Jaime Benavides, one of the first bakery workers to see what was happening, said he saw the woman take off her pants in the parking lot and give birth to a baby boy.
“His head was visible, just inside his pants,” Benavides said. “They were pressing against his nose.”
After the woman ran away, Benavides found the baby inside the woman’s pants.
“I feel bad for the mom,” she said. “She didn’t seem well and she seemed like she was homeless, but I’m glad the baby is okay.”
Witnesses called 911 and cared for the baby until paramedics arrived and were able to take the baby to a hospital for treatment. The baby is expected to survive.
Video near the loading dock showed officers removing a bloody blanket and other items on the ground.
Police are reviewing surveillance footage to help identify the woman, who may need medical attention after losing blood and enduring the trauma of childbirth.
Baby Safe Surrender Act
People face different circumstances. They may feel like they can’t raise a child or don’t know what resources are available to help them.
The Safe Surrender of Babies Act protects babies from being abandoned in unsafe places by encouraging people to give up a baby within 72 hours of birth, no questions asked and no prosecution.
Babies must be taken to a designated safe drop-off location, such as hospitals or certain fire stations. A parent or someone with legal custody can claim the baby within 14 days from the time of delivery.
