The baby was found by an officer and he just couldn't stop himself from apologizing to her for the situation.
More than a 1,000 people from across the world have offered to adopt Baby India, who was lovingly named so by officials after she was found inside a plastic bag in a wooded area of Forsyth County, Georgia. The newborn child was found with her umbilical cord intact and blood all over her. Despite the horrifying beginning, she now has hundreds who can't wait to give her a safe home.
“It’s amazing the number of people who are looking to take on a new life into their families,” Forsyth County Sheriff Ron Freeman told People, “and we got somebody who tried to throw one away.”
Sheriff Freeman's Press Conference from earlier today regarding the infant that was found. If you have information that could help us locate the family of this baby, call FCSO at 770.781.3087 or anonymous tip line 770.888.7308. #FOCObabyindia https://t.co/6vm25ph7g5
— ForsythCountySO (@ForsythCountySO) June 7, 2019
The abandonment had been done carelessly putting the child in danger. The state allows women who can't care for their newborns to be left in the care of the state and yet, what transpired is nothing short of criminal.
Meanwhile, the authorities are trying to locate her mother and released the video of the moment she was found. The Forsyth County Sheriff Office (FCSO) tweeted that they are "continuing to investigate & follow leads regarding #BabyIndia We're happy to report she is thriving & is in the care of Georgia Department of Family and Children Services [GADFACS]. By releasing the body cam footage from the discovery of Baby India we hope to receive credible info & find closure."
She was found crying in the woods on June 6. In the video, a man can be seen sitting next to her and telling emergency responders how he realized she was there. “My kids said, ‘That’s a baby,’ and I said ‘That’s an animal,’ ” the man says in the video. He later went outside and called the police, who opened the bag to find the infant covered in blood. The man spoke in utter shock at what he found.
“Look at you sweetheart. I’m so sorry,” an officer says. The little one wrapped her tiny fingers around one of the officer's fingers, breaking their hearts at the way she was abandoned. Yet, they had to do their duty. So, they assessed her for injuries. She was later wrapped up in blankets and taken to the hospital. Thankfully, she is in good health.
The dramatic footage from the body cam has been viewed a million times now, reports Fox5. "I could tell she just needed love from that point forward," Deputy Terry Roper told FOX 5. Roper keeps saying "I'm sorry" to the baby repeatedly in the video. The man's heart went out to her. "At first, I think it was because I opened the bag up in the baby's face. But then-- I was just apologizing for the situation. I was sorry she had been dumped and abandoned," Roper said.
The officials are shaken by the incident as well and want every woman in the area to know that "Georgia’s Safe Haven law allows mothers who can't care for their newborn (up to 30 days old) to leave the baby in the hands of an employee at a police station, fire department or hospital. No questions asked." They just don't want any child to be put in danger like Baby India was.
Georgia’s Safe Haven law allows mothers who can't care for their newborn (up to 30 days old) to leave the baby in the hands of an employee at a police station, fire department or hospital. No questions asked #SafeHaven #GeorgiaLaw #BabyIndia #FCSO pic.twitter.com/FtfgpHRTGz
— ForsythCountySO (@ForsythCountySO) June 27, 2019
She was given the name India by nurses as the name is on the list of names given to abandoned babies. Officer Roper was so attached to the child that he went back to see her and "hold" her.
"I know Terry. I know his family. I know his wife. I know his kids. He's a great deputy and he's probably a better man," said Sheriff Freeman to Fox5. "What you saw was a daddy come out and that's what I expect of him."
[Graphic Content: You might find it disturbing]
References:
http://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/forsyth-county-deputy-describes-finding-baby-in-the-woods