Mother Abandons Child in Backyard

June 19, 2009

A mother recently abandoned her child in a backyard in Wheaton, Illinois. The 24-year-old woman was an immigrant from Myanmar and she has said that she had no emotional attachment to her child. She has been charged with child endangerment and obstruction of justice.

The child, a newborn baby boy, will remain in the custody of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services until the identity of his father can be obtained. The mother has given no information on the name or whereabouts of the father, but has said that she became pregnant while living in Texas.

If the father is found, state law will allow him to be present at any hearing on the child’s future and could possibly permit him custody of the child. The mother has been told that her parental rights could be terminated in the future- meaning that any of her future children can be seized by the state and taken into public custody.