Mother Arrested and Charged After Her Abandoned Newborn Found Dead on Street

Mar. 15, 2025

A memorial for a California newborn found dead on a street in Lodi.Photo:CBS News

CBS News

A woman in California was arrested and charged after police say her newborn infant was found on the street alone.

The Lodi Police Department wrote in apost on Facebookthat police were dispatched on Thursday, Sept. 26, after they received a call about an infant found in the Lodi area around 11:40 a.m. Police said “numerous patrol and investigative units” located the infant, who was “pronounced deceased.”

Police added that its preliminary investigation found that 29-year-old Lodi native Kathryn Grace Copeland “abandoned the deceased newborn.”

Copeland “was ultimately arrested” and charged with “the abandonment of the deceased newborn,” said police, who worked closely with the San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office on the charges.

“An incident like this can be difficult and evoke a wide range of emotions,” the Lodi Police Department said in its post. “Not only does it affect our community but also our first responders, including our officers, dispatchers, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel.”

“Please remember that several organizations and resources are available to help those in need,” the department added.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

“We give them a bracelet for the child and the mother. A serial number, if you will,” he told CBS News. “They have 14 days to reclaim the child if they want it.”

“Please bring them to a safe surrender site and you can walk away, free and clear," he added.

source: people.com