Police in Orlando, Florida are searching for the parents of three babies abandoned at the same apartment complex over three years. The three babies were abandoned at the Willow Key Apartments in 2016, 2017, and 2019.
“We are trying to identify the parents, and once we find them, to find out what the problems were,” Orlando Police Department Public Information Officer, Heidi Rodriguez told People. “We are obviously very concerned about the safety of possible victims in the case. It is a top priority.”
Three babies have been abandoned at the same apartment complex since 2016.
NBC News reported that the police department requested $2,500 from the city council to pay for genetic testing for the deserted children.
“We already knew they were siblings,” Rodriguez says. “This is an extra step to identify the parents.”
She confirmed that the city council approved funding for genetic testing.
The most recently abandoned child was found in July.
People obtained a funding memo written by Orlando police detective Ghena Luker that stated the most recently discovered newborn was found in front of an apartment door in July.
“A note discovered at the scene explained the baby was left at the location because the mother was in fear of the child’s father and the risk he posed to the child,” Luker wrote in the memo.
Luker’s memo continued to describe that two other children “abandoned under similar circumstances” were most likely related.
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Several additional familial matches were found through DNA testing.
According to the memo, Luker notes that several familial DNA matches were found.
“In light of the fact all three children were abandoned in an analogous manner, I believed the cases were related,” Luker told NBC. “I submitted the DNA from all three children and learned they shared the same mother and father.”
“We are trying to find out why this happened three different times,” Rodriguez says. “The detectives are going above and beyond in the search to try to identify the persons. Our main priority is the safety of the mother and any other children.”
According to Rodriguez, the children are safe now.
When asked if the parents of the children could face charges a spokesperson for the Orlando police department said, “It’s tricky … it varies on a case-by-case basis.”
We certainly hope that the Orlando Police identify the mother and father and ensure the mother’s safety. If she did abandon the children out of fear for their safety, she herself is most likely in harm’s way as well.