Baby girl abandoned at Federal Way church, mother turns herself in

Federal Way police were called at 7:54 a.m. Sunday to recover an abandoned infant left at Steel Lake Presbyterian Church, 1829 S. 308th St.

Federal Way police were called at 7:54 a.m. Sunday to recover an abandoned infant left at Steel Lake Presbyterian Church, 1829 S. 308th St.

The baby girl was transported to the hospital in fair condition. Physicians there estimated the infant to be no more than 12 hours old.

The church’s video surveillance recorded a young female leaving the infant at the church at 2:16 a.m.

The infant’s mother turned herself in to police at 12:15 p.m. Monday. She cooperated with detectives and was released on her own recognizance.

The abandonment is being investigated and is a class C felony. It will be submitted to the King County Prosecutor’s Office, where consideration of charges will take place, police spokeswoman Cathy Schrock said.

Abandoning a newborn in a public location is illegal. Leaving an infant in the care of emergency room workers, hospital employees or fire department personnel is not illegal. Anyone with information about this case is asked to call detective K.C. Krusey at (253) 835-6895.