update: Newborn's body found at Hicksville train station

THE FUNERAL IS ON SATURDAY


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Just terrible....I'm so sick to my stomach

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BY CHRISTINE ARMARIO
Newsday Staff Writer

November 27, 2006, 10:57 PM EST

As commuters waited and boarded trains to the city in Hicksville Monday, the tiny body of a newborn boy was lying lifeless in a white plastic bag left on top of a trash can on the platform.

At about 9:30 a.m., a young man passed by and picked up the bag, thinking it was garbage that someone had discarded carelessly instead of placing it in the bin, according to Nassau police and Tim Jaccard, president of the Children of Hope Foundation. The commuter, who was not identified, then saw the unclothed infant, his umbilical chord still attached, in a small container.

Jaccard said the man was "extremely distraught" at the discovery. Police were called, and a flood of rescuers and investigators arrived, witnesses said. But the baby was already dead.

"The sad part is we've had so many saved," said Jaccard, whose nonprofit organization works to prevent mothers from dangerously discarding newborns. "Now, going into the Christmas season, we're hit with this."

Investigators said the infant appeared to have been born alive, at full term, outside a hospital setting. Beyond that, authorities have offered only vague details. They believe he was abandoned sometime after midnight Sunday. The cause of death and the child's race have not been determined.

Jaccard speculated that the newborn might have died from hypothermia within the first 24 hours of his life. Det. Sgt. Richard Laursen of Nassau's homicide squad said the body showed no apparent injuries. Although the weather was relatively mild, if a newborn's temperature drops to 97 degrees the circulatory and respiratory systems begin to fail, Jaccard said.

MTA spokesman Tom Kelly said investigators are looking for a man or woman seen carrying a white shopping bag at the station in the early morning hours. Several surveillance cameras on the Long Island Rail Road platform may have taped them, police said.

The brown metal trash container where the child was left stands next to a commuter waiting room on a second-level platform stained with dirt and grime. The railroad's peak morning hours had already passed when he was found, making it possible that several hundred riders had passed the bag without noticing what was inside.

"I don't think that anybody would have looked because the baby was not" visible, Jaccard said. "The people would have referred to it as just garbage. Thank God this man, in fact, did look into it."

Jaccard said the foundation would like the commuter to name the child before a planned burial within the next month at the Island of Hope in the Cemetery of the Holy Rood in Westbury. Like the 93 others buried there before him, the newborn will then be given the last name "Hope."

Anyone with information should call either MTA investigators at 212-878-1000 or Nassau police at 516-573-7788. Tips are kept confidential.

Parents who may want to safely relinquish a child at birth may contact the Children of Hope Foundation crisis line, 877-796-HOPE, Jaccard said.
Copyright 2006 Newsday Inc.

Message edited 12/7/2006 7:49:55 PM.

Re: Newborn's body found at Hicksville train station

Ugh - I feel sick.

Message edited 5/29/2009 9:32:49 AM.

Re: Newborn's body found at Hicksville train station

OMG I can't believe that people can do such a disgusting thing!!

Re: Newborn's body found at Hicksville train station

OMG, I was there yesterday at 9:44 and saw the police. I had no idea. That is just sick and awful....

Re: Newborn's body found at Hicksville train station

Re: Newborn's body found at Hicksville train station

Oh how I wish they would have given the baby to a wanting family!!!!

My heart goes out to that young infant!!

Re: Newborn's body found at Hicksville train station

This just disgusts me. There is so much help out there & so many families that want children yet this is still happenniing. Anyone that does this to a baby should have the same done to them.

Re: Newborn's body found at Hicksville train station

I heard about this on the news this morning

Re: Newborn's body found at Hicksville train station

Re: Newborn's body found at Hicksville train station

so sad

Re: Newborn's body found at Hicksville train station

People are sick

Re: Newborn's body found at Hicksville train station

Im at a loss for words.

Re: Newborn's body found at Hicksville train station

How sad, I just don't get it. You can bring that baby anywhere and they will help. How can you just throw it away like yesterday's trash?

Re: Newborn's body found at Hicksville train station

OMG That poor baby....freezing to death...why do people do this

Re: Newborn's body found at Hicksville train station

I hate this!!! It just disgust me that someone would do that, especially since NY has that law that you can take the baby to a Firehouse, Police Station, Church or Hospital, and give up parental rights with no questions asked!

Re: Newborn's body found at Hicksville train station

How awful
My heart just breaks when I hear stories like this.. especially knowing HOW many people want kids more than anything in this world, and are faced with struggles in conceiving.. but yet someone does this to an innoncent baby they were blessed with

Just tragic

Message edited 11/28/2006 11:43:23 AM.

Re: Newborn's body found at Hicksville train station

Omg, I can't even read this...so awful!!

Re: Newborn's body found at Hicksville train station

Re: Newborn's body found at Hicksville train station

With the Safe Haven laws all you have to do is drop the baby off at a police station, hospital etc and there are no questions asked.
Why on earth do people continue to do stuff like this??

Re: Newborn's body found at Hicksville train station

It is so sad because there are so many options for mothers who are not able to care for their children. There are so many people that can't have children of their own that are trying to adopt and then someone goes and does something like this.

Just disgusting and awful.

Re: Newborn's body found at Hicksville train station

There are no words Prayers for the soul of the innocent baby

Re: Newborn's body found at Hicksville train station

Disgusting...

Re: Newborn's body found at Hicksville train station

Re: Newborn's body found at Hicksville train station

With so many Safe Houses, why does this continue to happen?