Months Later, ‘The Baby’ Still Awaits an Identity

Police and social workers call the healthy 13-pound boy “the baby” because two months of investigation have turned up nothing more about the identity of the round-faced infant who was abandoned in a lobby at Los Angeles County Women’s Hospital.

Authorities made an appeal Friday for the parents, relatives or anyone else who may know about the baby--found with a neatly packed diaper bag at his side--to come forward with information to police or the county Department of Children’s Services.

“We have no idea who the parents are,” said Ray LaMotte, spokeswoman for the Department of Children’s Services. “We want word from them or anyone else so we can assist them.”

The baby was found at 11:15 p.m. on April 3, Easter Sunday, tucked in a baby seat left in a second-floor lobby at the hospital at Mission Street and Zonal Avenue, said Detective Norm Bonneau.

A nurse behind a partition in the lobby heard two whispering voices and seconds later walked out and found the 3- to 4-week-old baby alone on a lobby chair with a blue diaper bag next to him, Bonneau said.

He was clean and dressed in a white, one-piece stretch outfit when he was found. The child is in good health and is believed to be Latino, Bonneau said. The infant was “obviously well cared for,” Bonneau said.

About 32 disposable diapers, six sets of new pajamas, about 10 pairs of socks and several bottles were found folded inside the diaper bag, he said. No note or any other identification was found.

“It looked as if he was going down to grandma’s for the day,” Bonneau said.

The baby has been placed in a foster home, LaMotte said. If no one comes forward with information about the child, he will remain in county custody and a Juvenile Court judge will determine if he should be placed for adoption.

“It’s difficult because people are afraid to come forward when the police are involved,” said Detective Robert Rogers. “But we have a baby here and we want to help.”

Authorities asked that anyone with information call police at (213) 485-3141 or the Department of Children’s Services at (213) 482-7746.