Grandparents to Get Baby Abandoned in Jet Restroom

A baby girl found in a jetliner restroom only hours after she was born will be taken soon from a foster home and placed with her paternal grandparents, her court-appointed lawyer said Friday.

“The baby will be transferred from California to New York in the next few days,” said Gerry Hilliard, the attorney for month-old Alyssa LoCasto.

During a short hearing in San Mateo County Juvenile Court, Commissioner Patricia Bresee continued her July 22 ruling giving temporary custody to Alyssa’s grandparents John and Frances LoCasto of Staten Island, N.Y.

At the time, lawyers expected the necessary paper work to take a couple of weeks. Everything was complete as of Friday, Hilliard said.

Alyssa has been in the care of San Mateo County since she was found in a DC-10 restroom at San Francisco International Airport on July 13. Her mother, Christina LoCasto, who gave birth in the restroom of the jetliner just before a flight from Newark, N.J., has pleaded not guilty to a charge of felony child endangerment.

A county social worker will take Alyssa to Staten Island, where her parents will be able to visit her under the supervision of the borough’s Special Services for Children department, Hilliard said.

Alyssa will stay with her grandparents at least until Oct. 14, when Bresee will decide if the temporary arrangement will continue. She originally set a date of Aug. 26, but set the new one Friday.

Christina LoCasto, 24, of Staten Island, could face up to six years in prison if convicted. A hearing will be held Tuesday in San Mateo County Municipal Court to set a date for a preliminary hearing, but LoCasto is not required to appear, Assistant Dist. Atty. Stephen Wagstaffe said.