Unwanted Pregnancies

An incident happened down here in Louisiana early Wednesday afternoon.

A 20-yr old female tossed her newborn baby girl into a lake because 'she didn't want her'.

The female carried the baby full term, gave birth in her car, then immediately tossed the baby with the umbilical cord still attached. In a nearby trash can, officers found a garbage bag containing her placenta and a bloody towel.

The baby was found when witnesses by Lake Pontchartrain saw a lady toss something into the lake and then drove off casually. Thinking something was wrong, a man walked over to the lake and saw what appeared to be two tiny legs sticking out of the water. He immediately called 9-1-1. By the time officers pulled the baby out of the water, she was pronounced dead. Another man who witnessed the lady throwing something in the trash can earlier that day, but thought nothing of it, inquired after hearing the story of the baby. He then called police alerting them to what he had just seen in the trash can.

A few hours later, the female, accompanied by her parents, entered the police station to turn herself in. The female then admitted that she threw the baby in the lake because she didn't want her parents to find out and because she wasn't ready to take care of a baby. The female also admitted that right before she tossed the baby, she felt a heartbeat.

After the autopsy and if proven that the baby was alive immediately before tossing, the female will be charged with first degree murder.

The reaction of those in the community has been filled with outrage. Most brought up a law passed in 2000 called Safe Haven.

Under the policies of Safe Haven, new mothers can bring their unwanted child to a police station, fire station, hospital, or other licensed facility. From there state officials would find the baby a good home either in foster care or through adoption. The mother would face no criminal charges.

I have learned not to judge people. Sometimes a person makes a rough decision without fully thinking out the situation and lives to regret that decision. I feel that no one has the right of judging or placing the blame on another individual.

Yes, I feel that the situation could have been handled better, but I don't know what was going through that female's head at the time. No one would really know except that female and God.

However, her story has put the word of Save Haven out. Before this incident, I, and probably many others, have not heard of this law. But I am glad I know now..

Although every future child that I have, I, wholeheartedly, will love that child and take care of that child with all of might. But in my time of living, I may just run across someone in the same predicament as that female and her story and that of her baby may just save a life.