Mother Charged With Child Abandonment
Felony child endangering and child abandonment charges have been filed against a 19-year-old San Fernando woman who left her newborn baby in the cab of a pickup truck Saturday, authorities said.
Aracelia Alvarez, a junior at San Fernando High School, abandoned her son in a truck parked in the 500 block of N. Workman Street about 9 p.m., said Deputy Dist. Atty. David R. Lopez.
“She deserted the child and she did that with the intent to abandon the child,” Lopez said. “She no longer wanted him.”
Alvarez, who lives with relatives, told authorities that the child was born at County-USC Medical Center May 23 and she left it with a friend for a week. Police said she did not take the baby home because she was afraid of her family’s reaction, but had to reclaim the infant because her friend could no longer care for it.
She called an agency to place the baby up for adoption, but when she was told she would have to wait until Monday, she left the child in the truck with diapers and a bottle, police said.
The baby, Victor Manuel, has been in a foster home since Saturday.
“She still wants to put him up for adoption,” Lopez said.
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