Mental Compentency Hearing Ordered for Woman Accused of Leaving Newborn in Toilet

POMONA, CA - A mental competency evaluation was ordered Wednesday for a woman charged with felony child abuse after her newborn son was found in a toilet at a Subway sandwich shop in West Covina.

Mary Grace Trinidad's case was ordered to be sent to the Mental Health Courthouse, where an April 6 hearing will be held, after the defense declared a doubt about her mental competency.

The 37-year-old transient is accused of leaving her baby in the toilet at the Subway at 2540 S. Azusa Ave. on Feb. 15. She left a trail of blood behind her as she exited the shop, drawing attention to the bathroom, accordinh to West Covina police spokesman Rudy Lopez.

"Employees went inside and saw an umbilical cord hanging out of the toilet, then they found the baby in the toilet," he said.

The baby, who was submerged in toilet water and crying when found, was tended by Subway employees and patrons with help from 911 dispatchers until paramedics arrived and rushed him to a hospital.

Officers used a blood trail to track Trinidad to a Pep Boys store in the same shopping center, Lopez said.

Trinidad was booked by West Covina police after being released from Queen of the Valley Hospital on Feb. 17, the same day she was charged.

--City News Service, photo courtesy of the West Covina Police Department