The identity of a newborn baby who was left Sunday in a Hopkinsville church van remained a mystery today as authorities searched for clues in the case.

“We are still in the same place we were on Monday and Sunday,” said Paul Ray, a spokesman for Hopkinsville police. “We have no leads.”

The baby boy remained at Jennie Stuart Medical Center today. His condition was upgraded from fair to stable, said hospital spokesman Louanne Young.

The baby, who is white and weighed approximately 8 pounds at birth, was found at about 12:40 a.m. Sunday in a First Street Baptist Church van parked outside the church. He was in a baby’s car seat and had a blanket and a pacifier.

It appears the baby was born outside of a hospital and left in the van a short time later. Medical personnel believed the baby was about three hours old when he was found, said Ray.

Police are trying to find the baby’s mother. So far, police have not heard from anyone who might know the baby’s mother or who saw something outside the church around the time the baby was left in the van.

Worshippers were inside the church when the baby was found by a woman who was leaving services.

“No one has come forward,” Ray said.

The Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services is establishing custody of the baby.

Christian Family Court Judge Jason Fleming said today he could not comment on a specific case in his court but did explain the procedure for abandoned infants like the one left at the church.

A petition for dependency, abuse or neglect will be filed in Family Court by state officials. If the petition is granted, the state is granted temporary custody of the child.

The next step in court would be a petition to terminate parental rights.

Finally, if parental rights are terminated, the court would eventually place the child for adoption with a family approved by the state.

Anyone who has information about the identity of the child left Sunday at First Street Baptist is asked to call Hopkinsville police at 890-1522.

Source:
KY New Era, February 5, 2008
By Jennifer P. Brown, New Era Deputy Editor