Local
Missing 2-week-old boy found safe after mother fled Sun City hospital with him, sheriff says
The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office says a 2-week-old infant taken by his noncustodial mother from Banner Boswell Medical Center on Nov. 3 was found safe with her on Nov. 7. The case has raised questions about safety plans and support for mothers in crisis.
A 2-week-old boy who was reported missing after his mother walked out of a Sun City hospital with him has been found safe, the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office said.
The infant and his 37-year-old mother were located just after 8 p.m. on Nov. 7, according to the sheriff's office. Authorities did not say where the two were found or what condition they were in, and it was not immediately clear whether the mother will face criminal charges.
The search began on Nov. 3, when the mother was seen leaving Banner Boswell Medical Center with the newborn at about 4 p.m. The sheriff's office said the mother is a noncustodial parent and that she refused to hand the child over to the Department of Child Safety when DCS contacted her at the medical center to take temporary custody. She then fled on foot.
According to the sheriff's office, the mother had reported drug use before giving birth. The baby was born on Oct. 25, and DCS put a present-danger safety plan in place after his birth. The agency said the infant was considered at substantial risk of harm because of his extreme youth and vulnerability, requiring immediate and continuous care.
The sheriff's office also said the mother's circumstances included homelessness and unemployment, which it said heightened concerns for the child's safety.
Leila Woodard, founder of the Arizona Missing Child Task Force, said cases involving newborns are especially difficult to investigate because infants cannot be easily spotted in public.
"With an infant, we don't necessarily have characteristics to look for. They're not walking amongst us on the street. So it makes it a lot more challenging," Woodard said.
Woodard said there are resources available for mothers in crisis, including shelters that assist homeless women and nonprofits that help newborns going through drug withdrawal. She urged residents to stay alert and report anything that might help authorities locate a missing child.
"We want to make sure that the child is safe," she said. "A child this young is easy to hide. If you see anyone with a young two-week-old child on the streets, definitely contact your local police department."
The case remains under investigation. The sheriff's office has not released further details about the circumstances of the discovery or whether DCS will pursue custody proceedings.