A 38-year-old woman is under investigation after allegedly abandoning her newborn in downtown Trois-Rivières, Quebec, on New Year’s Day.
The baby was discovered by a passerby at the intersection of Royale and Bureau Streets around 3:00 p.m. on January 1, according to Radio-Canada.
Paramedics arrived shortly after and found the baby being warmed by the passerby using available clothing and items. Jérémy Lachance, director of operations for the local ambulance service, emphasized the urgency of keeping the baby warm. “We had to act quickly to prevent shock and ensure the baby was safe after birth,” he said.
Police later found the mother a few blocks away, where they realized she had given birth outdoors. Concerned for her health, paramedics transported her to the hospital due to potential hypothermia.
Karine Dahan, executive director of Centre le Havre, a local shelter, told Radio-Canada that she recognized the woman, who has been involved with homelessness services in Trois-Rivières. Dahan suggested that the situation was more complex than simple child abandonment.
Police spokesperson Stéphanie Côté confirmed that the mother’s name has not been released to protect the identity of the child. “Regardless of the circumstances, we ensure police interventions address the individual’s needs,” Côté said. “The first thing we check is whether the woman needs help.”
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The baby was transferred to CHU Sainte-Justine children’s hospital in Montreal and is reported to be alive. Quebec’s youth protection service (DPJ) is now involved in the case.
The woman faces a charge of failing to provide the necessaries of life. She is scheduled to appear at the Trois-Rivières courthouse for a bail hearing on Tuesday.
Currently detained at the Leclerc women’s detention centre in Laval, Que., the woman’s defense lawyer has requested she be transferred to a psychiatric unit at a mental health hospital in Shawinigan, according to Radio-Canada.
The Mauricie region’s local health authority, the Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux de la Mauricie et du Centre-du-Québec, confirmed the incident and stated that parents in Quebec who feel unable to care for their child can seek help at any health facility.
“If parents cannot care for their child, they can choose adoption, and youth protection will ensure the child’s safety,” the statement read.
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