Mother of Abandoned Baby Girl Sought, OR
Police asking for help finding baby's mother Tuesday, January 30, 2007 WADE NKRUMAH A Crime Stoppers alert Monday seeks the public's help in finding the mother of a baby girl abandoned earlier this month outside a Northeast Portland nursing home. "The baby is currently in foster care and has developed some medical issues that might be better treated if medical personnel had more information regarding the parent's family medical history," the notice from the Portland Police Bureau said. A cash reward of as much as $1,000 is being offered for information that leads to a resolution in the case. Crime Stoppers can be reached at 503-823-HELP (4357). Officials with the state Department of Human Services could not be reached for comment Monday afternoon. The girl was hours old and wrapped in a sopping wet towel when found Jan. 7 by a cook outside the Rose City Nursing Home. Staff members there called the baby "Hope Rose." Like most states, Oregon has a Safe Place for Newborns law. It allows a parent to leave a baby younger than 30 days at a safe facility -- such as a hospital, clinic, firehouse or police station -- with no questions asked. Portland Detective Mace Winter, who is leading the investigation, said whoever left the baby at the nursing home could be charged with a crime. "She did drop the baby off at a location that would probably, arguably be considered a safe haven," Winter said. "However, she left it on the doorstep and walked away. And the law requires that you hand it to a person, for the baby's safety." Winter said, though, that how heavy-handed the law would be on the parent would depend on "what her story is." Jeff Howes, a Multnomah County deputy district attorney, said the district attorney's office would review the case and decide on possible charges after police complete their investigation. "I'm not about to go out on a limb and issue an advisory opinion on this particular case," Howes said. Wade Nkrumah: 503-294-7627; wadenkrumah@ news.oregonian.com http://www.oregonlive.com/metro/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1170136517278030.xml&coll=7

$1,000 reward to find mother of abandoned baby Story Published: Jan 29, 2007 at 9:19 PM PST Story Updated: Jan 29, 2007 at 10:35 PM PST By Associated Press PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - The Portland Police Bureau has asked the public to help it find the mother of a baby girl abandoned outside a Portland nursing home Jan. 7. The bureau said the baby, who was wrapped in a wet towel when a cook at the nursing home found her on the doorstep, has medical problems that might be better treated if doctors had more information about the medical history of the parents. To prevent unwanted newborns from being abandoned or killed, Oregon passed the "Safe Place for Newborns" law in 2001. The law allows a parent to leave an infant that is 30 days old or younger with an employee of a medical facility or law-enforcement agency - no questions asked unless there are signs of abuse. Police have said it's not clear whether the doorstep outside a nursing home qualifies as a safe place under the law. Crime Stoppers is offering up to $1,000 for tips leading to the mother. The baby is currently in foster care. http://www.katu.com/news/5407911.html