Compton Woman Held in Abandonment of Daughter

VAN NUYS —  A 23-year-old Compton woman who abandoned her 2-day-old baby girl in a Reseda Park restroom was arrested hours later when she showed up at the hospital where she had delivered, seeking treatment for stomach pain, authorities said.

Yolanda Alcantara was being held at the Van Nuys women’s jail, in lieu of $50,000 bail, said Det. Bill Seeley of the LAPD’s West Valley Division.

Alcantara left the infant girl on the restroom floor Sunday about 6 p.m., said Sgt. Dan Mastro. Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics got a call a short time later from a woman reporting the abandoned baby. Mastro said the paramedics offered to transfer the call to police, but the woman hung up abruptly.

Paramedics found the baby girl wearing a plastic diaper and a light blue top with pink teddy bears. Apparently, the person who deserted the girl also left behind a note that read: “Please take care of my baby. I’m too young. My father will kill me.”

The baby was taken to Tarzana Regional Medical Center.

“She was in great condition,” Mastro said. Officers at the station nicknamed her “Cutie-pie.”

About 10 p.m. Sunday, according to police, Alcantara went to King-Drew Medical Center in Los Angeles. She was recognized by hospital workers, who asked about the newborn.

Alcantara said the baby was with her boyfriend, Mastro said. But the hospital staffers became suspicious when they called the boyfriend, who said he did not know where the baby was.

Medical personnel alerted investigators, who later arrested her.

Alcantara has friends in Reseda, and her boyfriend lives in Canoga Park, said Mastro, who also said he believed Alcantara left the baby and placed the phone call to paramedics herself from a nearby public phone.

Alcantara faces one count of felony child neglect when she is arraigned later this week. The baby girl has been placed in the care of Child Protective Services.

“The thing we are thankful for is that paramedics were able to locate her,” Mastro said.