BUENA VISTA, Tenn. (WTVF) — A woman walked out of her front door to find a newborn baby left on the porch of her home.
It was a shock, and certainly not something you would expect. Now, police now hope to locate the infant's parents.
In the small community of Buena Vista in Carroll County, a neighbor called Crissy Summers to say there was something left on her front porch. It's a rural area and people sometimes leave kittens or puppies, so Summers went to check.
"When I first walked out I saw a wicker basket and it just appeared to have towels or blankets," said Summers.
Moving them aside, she saw a tiny foot and realized a little boy was bundled up inside.
"It was a newborn with a hat pulled over the face and the outfit was a little bit big on it," Summers said.
Summers says she quickly brought the child inside and called 911. Then she checked the infant to make sure he was okay.
"The baby was sweet and happy and appeared to be healthy and never did it cry," said Summers.
She guesses the baby was on the porch for less than an hour since she didn't see the infant when she walked her dog earlier in the evening.
It was after dark, but the child was found warm in the basket, seemed well-fed and had a pacifier, but no note.
Doctors later found the baby's umbilical cord had been tied off with thread and determined the child was not delivered in a hospital.
The Carroll County Sheriff has posted an alert hoping to locate the child's parents.
Summers believes the mother did what she did because she felt she had no choice.
"I just want her to know she did make the right choice bringing the baby to get help from someone," Summers said.
This all happened last Tuesday and now nearly a week later authorities have not been able to locate the parents.
The good news? The baby boy is doing well and in DCS custody.
District Attorney Matt Stowe is handling the case and says he's glad the baby is OK.
He said the Safe Haven law allows parents to surrender babies without prosecution - but that should happen in safe designated places like a hospital, fire hall or police station.
Leaving a child alone on someone's front porch comes with potential risk.
