Newborn infant abandoned at a Tulsa church

A newborn baby was abandoned at a Tulsa church Wednesday afternoon. <br/><br/>The infant is hospitalized but in good condition. Tulsa Police say the baby was likely less than 24 hours old when the mother

Thursday, December 9th 2004, 10:29 am

By: News On 6

A newborn baby was abandoned at a Tulsa church Wednesday afternoon.

The infant is hospitalized but in good condition. Tulsa Police say the baby was likely less than 24 hours old when the mother walked into the chapel at St Francis Xavier Church, asked another woman to hold the baby just for a moment, then left and never returned.

Church workers tried desperately to find the mother for several hours, and then called police. Tulsa Police Sgt Whitney Allen: "I believe she did what she thought was good for the child and left it with someone at a church so the child is safe today because of her actions."

Investigators say the mother will not be prosecuted. Under Oklahoma's "abandoned baby" law, parents can leave an infant in the first seven days of life in the hands of a medical provider or child rescuer, without facing criminal charges.