On Tuesday, Sept. 2, a witness heard crying coming from a dumpster at the Budgetel Inn & Suites in Columbus, Georgia. The witness contacted authorities, and at around 6:30 p.m. local time, officers arrived to find a newborn baby abandoned in the dumpster. The Columbus Georgia Police Department (CGPD) confirmed that the infant was found in stable condition and was taken to Piedmont Columbus Regional Hospital for treatment.
Arrest of Mother, Zinnia Hernandez
After an extensive investigation, police arrested 22-year-old Zinnia Hernandez, the newborn’s mother. Hernandez reportedly admitted to giving birth to the baby boy in her motel room earlier that morning, then placing him in the dumpster after she returned from doing laundry. According to police, the baby had been in the trash for several hours before being discovered.
In courtroom footage captured by ABC affiliate WTVM, an investigator recalled asking Hernandez if she knew why police were there. Hernandez reportedly responded, “Probably because of the baby being in the dumpster.” She later confirmed to authorities, “I did it,” admitting to abandoning her newborn.
Details of the Incident
Hernandez stated that no one knew she was pregnant and that she gave birth alone in the motel room’s bathtub. Afterward, she placed the newborn, along with the placenta and umbilical cord, into a white and blue trash bag. The bag was tied and placed in another bag before being discarded in the dumpster, where it remained for five and a half to six hours.
Child’s Condition and Charges
The newborn was found in stable condition but required additional oxygen. Hernandez has been charged with criminal attempt murder, abandonment of a child, cruelty to children in the first degree, and reckless conduct. The investigation into the case is ongoing.
Georgia’s Safe Haven Law
In their press release, the CGPD reminded the public of Georgia’s Safe Haven Law, which allows mothers to leave a newborn (up to 30 days old) at a hospital, fire station, or police station without facing criminal charges, as long as the infant is left with staff. This law is designed to ensure the safety and well-being of newborns.
For those who suspect child abuse or neglect, authorities encourage calling the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child (1-800-422-4453).
