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Man, 23, Abandons His Newborn 11 Day - Old Baby in Plastic Garbage Bag

by Christina 123 | October 18, 2008 at 02:24 pm

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A MAN in Orlando, Florida, snatched his newborn eleven day-old baby from the boy's mother, ran down the road and abandoned his son in a black plastic garbage bag, after placing him in a plastic basket. The man, William Edward Allen, 23, who has been charged with attempted murder and aggravated child neglect, claims he put the baby in a bag to "protect him from the rain". He had had an argument about money with his partner.

The baby has now been reunited with his distraught mother and Allen banned from having contact with his child. Allen - who has previous drug-related offences - sent the mother a message of apology. Orange Coutny Police are thankful the baby is unharmed.

Records show Orange County deputies discovered the child in a plastic basket and inside the bag. The top of the bag had been folded over and pinned under the baby, preventing air from entering the bag.

Carrie Hoeppner with the Florida Department of Children and Families said the child was being cared for by a foster family after he was rescued by deputies.

"Investigators worked through the night with the Orange County Sheriff's [Office] for a better understanding of what happened and how a helpless infant could be left alone outside," Hoeppner said early Tuesday. "We are very thankful that he is OK after the incident."

The child was in protective custody before he was returned to his mother Tuesday.

Deputies said Allen, who was wanted on a violation of probation for a drug-related arrest, placed the newborn's life at risk after arguing with his wife about money.

A witness told deputies she had overheard that a man was seen running erratically from a Race Trac gas station on Goldenrod Road with a small child.

She followed him to the Winn-Dixie supermarket next door and watched him run out the back.

Allen ran through several backyards with the child in his arms before abandoning him in the backyard of a home on the 600 block of Faber Drive.

When captured by deputies, Allen asked them to tell his wife he was sorry, the report shows.