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Baby Found at Church in Moosic

MOOSIC — An infant has been found at a church in Lackawanna County. Authorities are trying to determine who left her there and why. The baby girl was foun...
baby found

MOOSIC -- An infant has been found at a church in Lackawanna County. Authorities are trying to determine who left her there and why.

The baby girl was found inside the Moosic Presbyterian Church on Main Street in Moosic.

The pastor of the church said he heard noises Tuesday morning and found the newborn wrapped in a blanket inside a downstairs bathroom.

She was taken to a hospital and is expected to be OK.

Doctors estimate the newborn to be about five days old.

The pastor believes someone dropped off the baby sometime between Sunday worship and Monday morning.

The Lackawanna County district attorney's office and police are investigating.

"The main focus of our investigation is to identify the baby and identify the mother. We're reaching out to the public and asking the public if anyone has any information about an infant who may have been born at home, delivered at home, or delivered somewhere other than a hospital within the last five days, or a provider who may have been approached or may have been asked for help in treating a female who may have just delivered a baby or (was) complaining of bleeding," said Moosic Police Officer John Chilleri.

Investigators said churches are not considered to be safe havens, places where people can drop off newborns with no questions asked. The state's safe haven law requires parents to drop off children at hospitals, where medical assistance is readily available. If tracked down, the baby's parents could be charged with endangerment, according to the D.A.'s office.

moosic presbyterian church

"I know there is a safe haven law. I don't know what it entails. I know, I'm an adoptive mother and I know it's a hard decision for anyone to make. I'm sure she had the best interest of the baby at heart," said Kim Jasuta of Moosic.

Melissa Fox of Moosic has two children under the age of two and was shocked to hear the news.

"I wish more or less that they let somebody know there was a baby there, if there was nobody in the church for a few days something drastic and devastating could happen," she said.

The pastor believes no one has been inside the church since Sunday service and there were no signs of a break-in.

It's not known how long the little girl was alone inside the church.

"I'm glad that the baby was alive and that it was found and that it was in the hospital and being taken care of, but it is shocking," Jasuta said.

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