[symple_googlemap title=”Welcome To Las Vegas” location=”5041 W. EL SEGUNDO BLVD. HAWTHORNE, CA 90250″ height=”300″ zoom=”16″]
Officials Saturday were apparently not searching for the mother of a fetus that was found next to a dumpster in Hawthorne because police said no crime occurred as a coroner’s investigation determined it was not viable.
The fetus was found behind the Coast Laundry at 5041 W. El Segundo Blvd., near Inglewood Avenue and Hawthorne High School, Hawthorne police Lt. Jim Royer said.
“About 7 a.m. (Friday), we received a call about a suspicious item that was found next to a dumpster behind the Coast Laundry,” Royer told City News Service.
“Our officers responded and believed they had found a fetus,” he said. “Our Special Victims Unit was notified and they went to the scene. They determined it was a fetus believed to be between 15 and 18 weeks old.”
Royer said it was not immediately determined if the fetus was male or female, but that the coroner found that it was not viable.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe reminded the public about the county’s Safe Surrender program.
“Awful tragedies like what occurred in Hawthorne are a reminder to mothers that there is always an option for their baby,” Knabe said.
“The Safe Surrender program was created to give a mother, no matter what the situation, a safe, secure and anonymous way to get her child into safe hands at any fire station or hospital, any time and to protect the baby from abandonment.”
There’s “no shame, no blame, no names,” he added.
There have been 16 “safe surrenders” this year and a total of 140 since the program began in 2001.
The Safe Surrender program allows a parent or legal guardian to confidentially hand over an infant 3 days old or younger to any hospital emergency room or fire station in Los Angeles County, without repercussions, as long as the infant has not been abused or neglected.
Information on the location of safe surrender sites is available 24 hours a day by calling (877) BABY SAFE.
— City News Service