Abandoned Newborn's Mother Sought In North Austin

AUSTIN, TX — Police on Tuesday issued a plea for help from the public in locating the mother of a newborn baby found abandoned along a row of community mailboxes.

The incident occurred just after 7:35 a.m. in the 11700 block of Rotherham Drive when police and medics responded to a check welfare call, police said in an advisory. A person on an early morning walk told police of hearing a child crying by the mailboxes. The walker found the child on the ground, police said.

After the person called 911, the child was taken to a local hospital where the newborn remains in stable condition, police said. Now, police are searching for the child's mother.

"Given the medical information gathered from the child, there are concerns about the health and well-being of the child’s mother," police wrote. "The Austin Police Department is asking for the community’s assistance in locating the mother of the child, as well as any individual who may have information about the incident."

While they investigate, officials ask anyone with information to call the police department's Child Abuse tip line at (512) 974-6880, Crime Stoppers at (512) 472-TIPS or use the new Crime Stoppers App. Tips also can be submitted by downloading the police department's mobile app, Austin PD, for free on iPhone and Android.