Newborn Found Alive In Trash Bin

AUBURN, Ind. -- A newborn girl was found alive inside a trash bin outside a northeastern Indiana apartment building, and police officers arrested a 19-year-old woman hours later on attempted murder charges.

Police said a woman who was throwing out her trash Sunday afternoon in Auburn heard a cry and found the baby inside a trash bag in the 300 block of East 19th Street.

"The Auburn police and fire departments, along with DeKalb County EMS, arrived and found the newborn baby girl alive and in the care of the person who had made the emergency call," said ISP Sgt. Ron Galaviz in a news release.

ISP Detective Mark Heffelfinger said the baby was taken to a hospital and did not appear to have any injuries.

He said medical personnel estimated the baby was at most four hours old when she arrived at the hospital.

Police arrested Alison Lesch, of Auburn, who was being held in the DeKalb County Jail pending a court appearance.

Heffelfinger said Lesch told investigators she didn't know what to do after she gave birth.

Lesch was held without bond in the DeKalb County Jail.

Under Indiana's Safe Haven Law, infants who are unharmed and less than 45 days old can be left with someone at a safe location, such as a hospital, fire or police station.

If those conditions are met, the mother is assured privacy and will not be prosecuted. That law took effect in 2000.