A newborn baby girl, who officials believe was abandoned by her mother immediately after her birth, was discovered in a police station toilet in the wee hours of this morning.
At about 2am today, officers working the late shift at the Mueang Chiang Mai police station were notified of the discovery by a cleaning lady. She had been working in the bathroom in the station’s investigation building when she heard crying, according to Suraphon Khamwongsa of the volunteer Ruamjai Rescue Foundation.
It was there that she reportedly discovered the newborn inside a toilet in one of the stalls — blood covering the surrounding floor.
While the mother was nowhere to be found, officials believe the baby had been delivered only an hour before she was discovered, Khaosod reported.
Officials arrived on the scene to find the infant very weak and with an extremely low body temperature. She also had placenta stuck to her body, according to Sanook.
Rescuers performed first aid on the baby before transporting her to Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital.
As of press time, police have yet to locate the baby’s mother, an officer at Chiang Mai Police Station told Coconuts Bangkok this afternoon.
After checking the precinct’s CCTV footage, police identified a few potential suspects but remain unsure as there was a street fair near the station yesterday night leading many passersby to come into the station to use the bathroom.
Police say that motive and other extenuating circumstances may guide whether or not the mother is ultimately prosecuted.
We will be sure to keep you posted as updates arise.
Clarification: An earlier version of this story said the newborn was discovered lying on the lid of the toilet. Subsequent information obtained from police revealed that she was actually found inside the toilet.
