MARSHALL COUNTY, Miss. (WREG) — A newborn baby was found alive but alone behind a dumpster Wednesday night near Cayce, Mississippi.
Marshall County authorities say the baby, who was two to three weeks old, was found at a mobile home community on Grove Boulevard in Cayce around 7:30.
Three men were throwing away trash when they heard what they thought was a baby crying, authorities said. They found the baby in a car seat, wrapped in blankets.
The baby was taken to Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital in Memphis and is reportedly doing well. The child will be released to Marshall County DHS, authorities said.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office at 662-252-1311.
When we reached out to Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, they said they will not comment because the investigation is ongoing. However, they did provide information about Tennessee’s Safe Haven Law.
The law, enacted on July 1, 2001, allows mothers of newborns up to two weeks old to surrender babies to staff at designated facilities without fear of being prosecuted and with assurance of confidentiality as long as the child is unharmed.
Safe haven facilities include hospitals, birthing centers, health departments, walk-in clinics, fire stations, EMS, and police stations.
Mississippi also has a safe haven law that allows parents to surrender a child 45 days old or younger to an emergency medical services provider. Parents can deliver the child directly to the provider or place them in a baby safety device, also known as a baby box, sponsored by the medical provider.