Newborn found left on doorstep at apartment complex, Orlando police say

Police: Baby found wrapped in T-shirt, appeared to be in good health

ORLANDO, Fla. – A newborn was found left on a doorstep at an apartment complex Saturday, according to the Orlando Police Department.

Police said officers went to Willow Key Apartments in the 5500 block of Arnold Palmer Drive at about 10:08 a.m. regarding a 1-day-old boy left on a doorstep.

Officers found the baby wrapped in a T-shirt and said he appears to be in good health. The baby was taken to Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children.

Althea Brown still cannot believe someone left that newborn on her doorstep.

"It's incomprehensible to me," she told News 6. "I don't know if it's a neighbor or not or if it was just somebody that decided to use this place as their escape."

Brown had left for work when she got a call from a neighbor saying they heard the sound of a newborn crying.

"When I heard it, I wish I was there," she said. "Maybe I'd take that baby in. Not to adopt it, but to foster it or something."

Police said OPD's Criminal Investigations Division is looking into the matter and that the Florida Department of Children and Families was notified.

"I don't know who did this," Brown said. "I don't know who did what, so I don't know what's in their head."

Police are reminding the public that an unwanted newborn baby should be taken to a hospital or a fire station, adding that there are no criminal repercussions if handled in this manner. Police said this can be done until the baby is 7 days old.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the Orlando Police Department at 321-235-5300.


About the Authors:

It has been an absolute pleasure for Clay LePard living and working in Orlando since he joined News 6 in July 2017. Previously, Clay worked at WNEP TV in Scranton, Pennsylvania, where he brought viewers along to witness everything from unprecedented access to the Tobyhanna Army Depot to an interview with convicted double-murderer Hugo Selenski.

Troy Blevins is a Digital Content Editor who has been with Graham Media Group since 2012.

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