Safely Surrendered Baby Law
Deputies hope the case of a newborn left to die in a strawberry field will raise awareness about California’s “Safely Surrendered Baby Law.”An Oxnard mother arrested Friday is now facing murder charges in connection with the case.Deputies say 20 year old Rosalba Cruz Moran was already in custody on unrelated charges when DNA evidence linked her to the death of the newborn.Investigators say it appears she abandoned the baby after giving birth in the field on Central Avenue in late May.Another farm worker found the baby boy’s remains. A relative of Moran worked in the same field, but it is not clear whether the relative knew about the pregnancy.The SSB law provides a safe way for a parent to confidentially surrender a newborn at a fire station or a hospital without fear of prosecution.The parent has 72 hours to surrender the baby and the up to 15 days to reclaim the baby if they choose to do so.You many also call 2-1-1 for help.Moran may speak Mixteca so Deputies are trying to get the work out in English, Spanish and Mixteca. More than four hundred babies have been surrendered since 2001.About a dozen cases happened in Ventura County.If you have any information about the strawberry field baby case your are urged to contact detectives at 383-8786. Safely Surrender Baby LawShare your comments about this story with us on the KEY News Facebook page. Connect with KEY News on Twitter
