New York, NY — A 30-year-old woman has been charged after allegedly abandoning her newborn baby at a Midtown Manhattan subway station just hours after giving birth. Authorities say the baby girl was found alive, wrapped in a blanket, at the bottom of a staircase during the Monday morning rush hour.
According to police, the infant still had her umbilical cord attached, suggesting she had been born only a few hours earlier.
“It was truly the miracle on 34th Street,” said New York City Transit President Demetrius Crichlow, after the baby was safely taken to the hospital in stable condition.
Found During Morning Commute
Commuters discovered the baby on the southbound 1 train platform at 34th Street–Penn Station around 8 a.m. Police quickly responded and transported the infant to a nearby hospital, where doctors confirmed she was healthy and only hours old.
Detectives began reviewing surveillance footage from the subway station, which showed a woman carrying a small bundle through the turnstiles. Additional video later captured the same woman leaving the station empty-handed.
Authorities identified the woman as Assa Diawara, who they say gave birth late Sunday night into early Monday morning. According to Good Morning America, Diawara admitted to investigators that she was the woman seen in the surveillance footage.
“She told police she had just given birth hours before leaving the baby at the station,” stated the criminal complaint.
Arrest and Investigation
Diawara was arrested early Wednesday and charged with abandonment of a child and endangering the welfare of a child. Detectives were able to locate her by tracking surveillance footage that showed her traveling from Penn Station to Jamaica, Queens in a car service.
Officers canvassed the area where she was dropped off and found a neighbor who recognized her from the surveillance footage, helping police confirm her identity.
“Detectives followed a digital and physical trail that led to her neighborhood in Queens,” an NYPD official said.
Diawara has since made her first court appearance and was granted supervised release. She is scheduled to return to court in December.
Legal Context: Safe Haven Law
Under New York’s Abandoned Infant Protection Act, a parent may legally surrender a newborn at a safe location — such as a hospital, police station, or firehouse — within 30 days of birth.
If the parent leaves the child in a safe place and notifies the proper authorities, they cannot be prosecuted and may remain anonymous.
“The law exists to prevent exactly this type of tragedy — to give parents in crisis a safe and legal alternative,” said a spokesperson for the New York State Office of Children and Family Services.
Public Reaction and Baby’s Recovery
The incident has drawn strong reactions from New Yorkers, with many expressing relief that the baby was found alive and concern about the circumstances leading to her abandonment.
Officials say the infant is now in stable condition under hospital care and will remain in protective custody until child welfare authorities determine next steps.
Diawara’s case continues to unfold as investigators examine her background and the events leading up to the baby’s discovery.
What are your thoughts on this case and New York’s Safe Haven law? Share your views in the comments below.
