Woman walks away from baby after giving birth on Oakland street
Jaxon Van Derbeken

Friday, March 9, 2007

OAKLAND -- After giving birth to a premature baby on an East Oakland street, police say the mother ripped the umbilical cord and walked away Friday afternoon, leaving the newborn boy dead or dying in a puddle of blood.

The 4:39 p.m. incident in the 1400 block of 65th Avenue left witnesses and veteran investigators stunned.

"It's just crazy,' said Oakland police Sgt. Tony Jones of the homicide detail. "Once she started spitting out the baby, you have some obligation to get it some type of medical attention. She didn't do that.'

Jones said an autopsy will determine whether the child was stillborn or whether it died after being abandoned.

The mother was arrested, he said, but apparently gave a false name. She remains hospitalized at an undisclosed location and is under guard, police said.

Witnesses told police that the woman was walking on the street, stopped and pulled her pants to her ankles and gave birth on the street. "She dropped the baby, ripped the umbilical cord and kept walking,' Jones said.

Witnesses followed the woman and pointed her out to police as she walked about two blocks from where she had given birth.

Jones said the child was born "somewhat premature' but said the autopsy will determine how far along the child was in development. He said the woman's bizarre behavior is a mystery. "We're waiting to talk to her.'