Newborn baby found abandoned at Central Florida mobile home park

A newborn baby girl was found abandoned at a Central Florida mobile home park on Saturday after someone reported they heard a baby crying.

Deputies located the baby at 1:47 a.m. on a small hill near the Regal Loop Mobile Home Park in Mulberry, according to a press release from the Polk County Sheriff’s Department.

The child was still connected to the placenta, deputies said, with Polk County Fire Rescue medical personnel estimating she had been born about one hour before she was found.

The overnight temperature in the area had dipped into the lower 50s.

“It was by the grace of God that we found the abandoned baby girl when we did, before exposure to the cold or any animals caused her any harm,” said Sheriff Grady Judd in the release. “She was left in an extremely vulnerable condition, but she’s a strong little girl, and it looks like she’s doing great.”

She was transported to an area hospital where she was reportedly in stable condition and healthy, the press release stated.

Deputies were unsuccessful as of Sunday afternoon in their efforts to locate the child’s mother.

Florida’s Safe Haven Law allows for newborn children under a week old to be left anonymously at hospitals or properly staffed fire stations without fear of prosecution.

The sheriff’s office is asking for anyone with knowledge about the incident to call 863-298-6200.