Mother in custody after newborn found in White Plains ShopRite restroom

Mother in custody after newborn found in White Plains ShopRite restroom The 32-year-old mother is a ShopRite employee

Michelle Charlesworth has the latest on the case. WHITE PLAINS, New York (WABC) -- A 32-year-old mother and ShopRite employee has been taken into custody after her newborn baby was found abandoned inside the restroom of the White Plains supermarket, according to police.

White Plains police said the mother gave birth around 11 p.m. on Saturday and left her newborn baby boy in the employee bathroom of the City Center ShopRite.

They said the boy was left there for seven hours until he was discovered Sunday morning by an employee, prompting the 911 call.

The baby was taken to White Plains Hospital and is now in stable condition.

"The mother is currently in custody receiving treatment for this recent birth," said White Plain Police Sgt. Claudio Benavides. "The child is being taken care of by Child Protective Services and we are talking to the DA about charges"

She is receiving medical care because she did not give birth in a hospital. She is also in stable condition.

Police say the quick actions of the person who found the newborn may have saved the child's life.

"We can confirm that a newborn infant was discovered in the restroom by store associates, who immediately called 911 and cared for the baby until emergency responders arrived and transported the infant to a local hospital," a ShopRite spokesperson said in a statement.

Westchester County Child Protective Services is aiding in the child's future care, according to officials.

White Plains Public Safety Commissioner Wade Hardy issued a reminder to everyone that abandoning a baby is a crime, and that there is a lawful way to hand over an infant.

"In New York State we have the Safe Haven law which states that you can leave a child who is younger than 30 days old with a fire department or a police station or a nurse at the hospital to be taken care of," Hardy said.

A handoff done that way would be lawful and can even be anonymous.

The Department of Public Safety in White Plains would like to emphasize the availability of New York State's "Safe Haven" law, designed specifically to prevent tragedies like this and to ensure the safety of newborns.

Under the Abandoned Infant Protection Act, an individual will not be held criminally liable for child abandonment if they ensure the following conditions are met:

If anyone has any information on the investigation, you can contact the White Plains Police Department at 914-422-6111.