Baby Buried Alive in California in Good Condition, Mother Arrested
— -- The woman arrested for allegedly burying her newborn alive under a southern California bike path is being held for attempted murder and child endangerment, authorities said Monday.
Porche Laronda Washington, 33, was taken into custody last Thursday in Compton, California, for purportedly burying the baby girl under dirt and rubble, according to authorities. The baby girl was thought to be 24 to 36 hours old when two women heard the baby's muffled cries while walking on the bike path near a Compton riverbed the day after Thanksgiving, police said.
Two officers retrieved the baby, who was wrapped in what appeared to be a hospital blanket. She was taken to an area hospital in stable condition, according to authorities.
Washington was arrested on a $500,000 warrant and will make her first court appearance today. The baby remains in good condition at a local hospital; once she is released, the Department of Child and Family Services will determine where to place her.
Washington's motivations for burying her child remain a mystery, but officials said she was admitted to a local hospital on Nov. 23 and was later released with the baby on Nov. 26.
Community tips and media coverage led police to the arrest, the Los Angeles County Sheriff Department said in a press release.
Police did not say whether any family members have come forward to claim the baby or if authorities have contacted any potential caregivers.
The city of Compton is 17 miles south of Los Angeles.
