GREENVILLE (FOX Carolina) -- A foster family has been lined up for the newborn boy found in a toilet at the Bi-Lo Center last Friday night, the Department of Social Services said.
The boy was listed in fair but stable condition at a Greenville hospital on Friday morning.
DSS said that once the boy is released from the hospital, he will be placed with a licensed foster family until an investigation by the department and law enforcement is complete. The agency said the findings of that investigation will determine if the boy is reunited with his family or if the court will decide who gets custody of the child.
Jessica Blackham, 24, of Easley, turned herself in to police on Tuesday night. She was charged with unlawful neglect of a child and two counts of felony child abuse, and released on $30,000 bond.
Investigators said a Bi-Lo Center employee discovered the newborn baby in the women’s restroom. They said they believe the baby was born there. Investigators said the child was no more than a couple of hours old when the employee found him.
The 911 dispatcher who answered the call about the discovery is also being credited with saving the newborn's life.
Angellina Ramirez said she was initially shocked to hear about the baby, but said dispatchers must act quickly and efficiently to get the resources in place to help those in need.
"You can't really prepare for that exact situation, but you do rely back on that training you have to also make sure everybody else is aware of what's going on and get the appropriate units out there," Ramirez said.
In a FOX Carolina exclusive interview Wednesday, Andy McAuliffe, Blackham’s father, said his daughter didn’t know she was pregnant.
(This story courtesy FOX Carolina.)
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