A 26-year-old woman from New York City, Delfina Galvez, has been charged with multiple offenses after allegedly abandoning a baby on an imam’s doorstep in the Bronx. The New York Police Department spokesperson confirmed that Galvez was arrested on Monday, December 30, and is now facing charges of abandonment of a child, reckless endangerment in the first degree, and acting in a manner injurious to a child. These charges stem from an incident where she allegedly left a female infant outside a residence in the Bronx on Sunday, December 29.
According to the NYPD, the baby girl was discovered “wrapped in blankets within a tote bag in front of a residence” around 6 a.m. local time. Surveillance footage obtained by CBS News New York shows a woman carrying a tote bag believed to contain the infant on Reverend James A. Polite Avenue before later appearing without the bag. The woman was later identified as Galvez, who authorities revealed to be the mother of the baby.
Residents in the area expressed shock and concern over the incident. Fatou Sair remarked, “It’s crazy. How do you leave a baby like this in the street?” Mamadou Hafiz Jallow, an imam who was at a nearby mosque when the baby was left at his doorstep, explained that a neighbor alerted him to the crying infant. Upon discovering the infant, he found her to be very cold and in need of immediate care. Jallow, who has been leading prayers at the mosque for three years, expressed confusion as to why the baby was abandoned at his residence.
The baby was promptly taken to Jacobi Medical Center via ambulance and was reported to be in stable condition by the NYPD. The infant continues to receive care from hospital staff. Concerned residents in the neighborhood emphasized the disturbing nature of the incident, with one individual stating, “Hearing that this is even a thing is very disturbing for this neighborhood.”
Galvez resides near the location where she is accused of leaving the infant. In New York, laws permit newborn babies to be left at hospitals, police stations, and firehouses without facing criminal charges, as highlighted by CBS News New York. Jallow, reflecting on the situation, expressed his hope for the well-being of the baby and the need for forgiveness for the mother.
The case has sparked attention and concern in the community, highlighting the importance of ensuring the safety and welfare of children. As the legal proceedings continue, the focus remains on providing care and support for the infant, who is currently under the supervision of medical professionals following the distressing events that unfolded in the Bronx.
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