The Arrest
A 30-year-old Queens woman has been arrested after allegedly abandoning her newborn baby at a Midtown Manhattan subway station earlier this week, according to the New York Police Department. Authorities identified the mother as Assa Diawara, who was taken into custody early Wednesday in Queens. Police say Diawara faces charges of abandonment of a child and endangering the welfare of a child after investigators linked her to the incident through surveillance footage and witness accounts.
Discovery at the Station
The infant, described by police as a newborn girl, was found alive and wrapped in a blanket on a bench inside a Midtown subway station Monday morning. Transit officers responded after receiving a 911 call from commuters who spotted the baby alone. The child was immediately transported to a local hospital, where she was reported to be in stable condition.
Police Investigation
Detectives from the NYPD’s Midtown South Precinct launched an investigation that quickly led them to Diawara. Surveillance video reportedly captured her entering the station with the baby and leaving moments later without the child. “The swift response of both the public and our officers ensured this child’s safety,” an NYPD spokesperson said in a statement Wednesday.
Legal Context and Safe Haven Law
Under New York’s Safe Haven Law, parents can legally surrender a newborn — up to 30 days old — to a hospital, firehouse, or police precinct without facing criminal charges, provided the baby is left with a responsible adult and is unharmed. Leaving an infant unattended in a public area, however, constitutes a criminal offense.
What Happens Next
Diawara is currently in NYPD custody pending arraignment. The Administration for Children’s Services has taken temporary custody of the newborn as the investigation continues. Officials say they are reviewing the circumstances that led to the abandonment and will determine whether social services or additional interventions are appropriate. “Every parent in crisis has options,” said a spokesperson for New York’s child welfare agency. “No one should feel they have to leave a baby in harm’s way.”
Broader Issue of Infant Abandonment
Incidents of newborn abandonment in New York City are rare but not unheard of. Advocacy groups say the case underscores the ongoing need for better education about Safe Haven protections and accessible mental health and social support for new mothers in distress.