Newborn baby found abandoned in stroller in South Los Angeles

SOUTH LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A baby with his umbilical cord still attached was found abandoned in a stroller near a church in South Los Angeles Tuesday afternoon, police said.

Alex Diaz spotted the stroller near Vermont Avenue and Dana Street at about 10:30 p.m. Monday, but thought it was empty and discarded.

While on a walk with his two young boys at about 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, Diaz took a closer look, saw the baby and notified police.

"When I got up close to the stroller and the blanket was clean, it was just like, 'Oh, I hope nobody did this, I hope I'm not about to find a baby in here,' and sure enough that's what happened," Diaz said. "It was burning hot. He was sweating. His pajamas were soaked in sweat. It was horrible. I don't know how somebody can do something like that, not even animals do that."

The boy, who is believed to be one day old, was transported by paramedics to a local hospital.

When the infant first arrived at California Hospital Medical Center, officials said he was dehydrated, his sugars were low and he was considered to be in serious condition. As of 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, hospital officials said he was eating, receiving IV fluids and was doing well.

Authorities said the infant could be released to the Department of Children and Family Services by Wednesday.

Detectives were searching for witnesses and hoping to collect surveillance footage from nearby businesses in hopes of finding his mother.

The newborn was abandoned just across the street from St. Agnes Catholic Church.

"That's what saddens me about the whole situation that the child was left across the street under a mattress in a stroller, and they could've easily just rang the doorbell and left the child there," Father David Matz said.

Los Angeles County's "Safe Surrender" law allows a parent or guardian to give up an infant at a hospital or fire station if the child is no more than three days old and shows no signs of abuse.