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Mother located of newborn found in backyard

Infant to be transferred to foster care
Posted at 1:41 PM, Jul 18, 2016
and last updated 2016-07-18 17:23:59-04

LOWELL, Ind. -- The mother of a newborn baby abandoned in Lowell, Ind., has been located.

A 9-year-old girl found the infantin her backyard last Monday.

Lake County Sheriff John Buncich says that the Special Victims Unit has been in contact with the mother, who is a teen from Lowell.

Authorities say the baby is still in the hospital and is in good health. 

She will eventually be transferred to foster care.

The case has been turned over to the Indiana Department of Child Services for investigation.

Indiana's Safe Haven Law allows parents to leave a child between 1-30 days old anonymously at a hospital emergency room, fire station or police station without fear of arrest or prosecution.

After a medical examination and a waiting period to allow the child's parents to come forward, children left under the Safe Haven Law are placed up for adoption. The whole process can take four-to-six months.

To read more about what happens to Indiana's Safe Haven babies, click here.

MORE | Man drops off baby at Lafayette hospital in first case of Safe Haven law this year | Police search for mother of newborn child abandoned at North Vernon church | Should Indiana promote Safe Haven signage? | Second baby left with IFD under Safe Haven law