Newborn 'Safe and Healthy' After Being Left Inside Box on Nebraska Fire Station’s Doorstep

Abigail Adams
·2 min read
29

Nebraska's safe haven law allows anyone of any age to legally surrender an infant 30 days old or younger at a hospital

Firefighters in Nebraska’s capitol were caught by surprise Saturday morning when they found a newborn baby on the station’s doorstep.

The baby boy, who was just hours old, was found at the front door of OFD Station No. 21 around 5 a.m. local time, Omaha Fire Battalion Chief Coby Werner said, according to NBC affiliate WOWT and ABC affiliate KETV.

A group of firefighters found the box after walking out of the station to investigate who had rung their doorbell, Omaha World-Herald reported.

“The box appeared to be moving a little bit,” Werner told KETV. “So they peeked inside the box and did find a baby.”

Related: First Newborn Surrendered to Florida's Only Safe Haven Baby Box Over 2 Years After It Was Installed

The child was transported to Nebraska Medical Center so doctors could examine him, according to WOWT and World-Herald.

Lieutenant Neal Bonacci of the Omaha Police Department said local authorities do not plan to investigate or prosecute the case, per the World-Herald.

The OFD and Omaha Police Department did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s requests for comment.

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In 2008, Nebraska passed a safe haven law that allows anyone of any age to legally surrender an infant 30 days old or younger at a hospital. The surrender must take place in person, as well.

In some states, babies can be surrendered at fire stations. But Nebraska is not one of those states.

Related: Infant Surrendered at Safe Haven Baby Box in Kentucky Less Than 2 Months After It Was Installed

However, members of the OFD are sympathetic to the situation.

“You know, the main thing is that, yes, the baby was safe and healthy,” Werner told KETV, adding that hopefully the child's story “will have a very happy ending."

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