A 17 year old mother, who had been living in Madera, has been charged with the murder of her newborn baby. The tragedy has brought to life safer alternatives when parents find themselves in desperate situations.
It doesn't happen often, but in times of desperation and with no where else to turn, parents show up at Children's Hospital of Central California to hand over their newborn babies.
Trauma nurse Liason Kristina Pasma says, "A few months ago we actually had a baby that was a safe surrender through the emergency department."
Here, there's no judgement, no police involvement and no questions asked.
"they can just bring the baby in. We want them to bring the baby in rather than possibly harming the child," says pasma.
It's that worst case scenario; parents who snap and abandon, injure or even kill their babies, that prompted a law called safe surrender. It allows parents to anonymously surrender their newborn babies, up to 72 hours after birth. The infant is eventually placed into foster care, but parents have 14 days to change their minds.
Pasma says, "Maybe this is something they don't want to do. Maybe they want their baby back."
Every hospital in the state is a safe surrender site. In Madera county, that includes Children's and Madera Community. In Fresno county, there are many other open doors including the EOC Sanctuary and 50 city and county fire stations.
Cal Fire captain Ryan Michaels says, "We've always been a place where our doors remain open but this is a very special circumstance and we want people to know that in those dire moments, they can turn to us."
No matter the circumstance, because what matters is keeping infants safe and giving them a fighting chance.
"It could be a matter of life and death," says Pasma.
Since 2001, 605 newborn babies have been surrendered through the program. In cases where parents are from another country and don't speak the native language, hospital officials say interpreters are on site and available through video chat. The Mexican Consulate is equipped with information as well.