YONKERS, NY – A distressing case unfolded in Yonkers when a newborn baby girl was found abandoned in the hallway of an apartment building on Chestnut Street around 8:30 pm on February 6, 2024. The Yonkers Police Department swiftly responded to the scene after receiving reports of the infant, who was discovered with her umbilical cord still attached, wrapped in a blanket and left on the floor.
The baby was immediately attended to by first responders and taken to a nearby hospital where she received medical care and was stabilized. The police initiated a comprehensive investigation involving several units, including the Special Victims Unit and Major Case Squad, utilizing surveillance footage and witness interviews to trace the events leading to the abandonment.
The investigation revealed that 21-year-old Jaqueline Marleni Perez, a resident of Yonkers, had given birth to the baby by herself earlier that day. She later placed the newborn in the building’s hallway before a neighbor found her and alerted the authorities.
Perez was located, received medical evaluation for the complications arising from the unattended birth, and was subsequently arrested. She faces charges of Abandonment of a Child, a Class E Felony under New York State Penal Law. In accordance with state bail laws, Perez was arraigned and released on her own recognizance.
Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano expressed relief that the baby was safe and emphasized the city’s commitment to providing help to those in need, highlighting the importance of reaching out for support in desperate situations.