Newborn Left in McDonald's Bathroom Stall

Michelle Dawn Richardson, 27, of Wendell, North Carolina is suspected of leaving an infant in a MCDonald's restroom, on Thursday night, December 7, 2006 within an hour of giving birth to the baby boy, at her home. Michelle Richardson is seen on a McDonald's surveillance video entering into the restaurant, heading for the bathroom, where she left her infant son just hours old in the womens bathroom stall. This is the first time Richardson has abandoned a child. Zebulon Police Chief, Tim Hayworth said he didn't know why Richardson would leave her baby in a McDonald's.

Hayworth feels that Richardson is very aware of the North Carolina law concerning unwanted newborns, because she has previously abided by the law and dropped off her twin infants at an area hospital. North Carolina has a safe haven, safe surrender law that premits a overwhelmed mother to drop off her child within seven days of giving birth, with no questions asked by people in authority. This law was passed to prevent infants from being killed, or being left unsafely to die, which could have been the case with Richardson's infant in the McDonald's bathroom stall. The law states that she could have left her infant at a Police Station, Department of Social Services, Hospital or with an adult, and she could have just walked away, but she can't leave a baby alone, or in a unsafe area, also the infant has to be unharmed. Safe surrender is legal and completely anonymous. It is very pleasing that Richardson didn't kill,or leave her baby outdoors, or in a trash can, but according to the law she had better options, instead of a McDonald's bathroom. Officials say she had her 2 year old with her when she left her newborn in the bathroom stall.

Michelle Richardson was arrested Thursday night. She may face charges for felony child abuse, and child abandonment. The infant was found after a customer saw a blanket inside the bathroom stall, the customer picked it up and noticed it was a baby. The infant still had blood on him, but appeared to be clean, someone took the time to wipe the infant off. The umbilical cord was still attached. Richardson, was taken to Wake County jail for arraignment. Richardson told the magistrate she tried to drop the newborn off at the Wendell Fire Department, but no one was there, and then went to a near by church and finally decided to leave him in the McDonald's bathroom stall. According to Richardson she believed that as long as she left the child in a safe place she was following the law, but authorities don't agree. She is in jail under a one million dollar bond.