A newborn is alive and safe after Savannah police found the baby in a trash can near a Quality Inn on Abercorn Street early on Oct. 10. The discovery came after an EMS crew treating a hemorrhaging patient at a hospital realized she had recently given birth, prompting a search that ended around 2:45 a.m. Three people were arrested: Dominique Welcome, 29, and Jamal West, 44, each charged with cruelty to children, and Chiquita Roche, 39, charged with party to a crime and obstruction. The baby is now in the care of Georgia’s Division of Family and Children Services.
The case has renewed attention on Georgia’s Safe Place for Newborns Act, which grants criminal immunity to mothers who surrender a baby up to 30 days old at authorized locations such as hospitals, fire stations, or police stations. Florida has a similar law on the books. Hospital leaders in Savannah say safe surrender is a core part of their mission, describing it as a guilt-free option for mothers who want their baby to survive and thrive.
The details of this case will play out in the courts, and the people charged are presumed innocent until proven otherwise. What’s not in dispute is that information about safe haven laws can be life-saving, and it’s worth sharing with anyone who might need it. Do you know where the nearest safe surrender location is in your community, and did you know Florida offered this option before today?
