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Apr 23, 2007 3:09 pm US/Pacific
Woman Gives Birth, Abandons Baby On SF Sidewalk
(CBS 5 / AP / BCN) SAN FRANCISCO A San Francisco woman who allegedly walked away from her baby boy after giving birth to him on a street corner was arrested on suspicion of child endangerment and neglect, police said.
Nadine Matthews gave birth on the sidewalk Sunday night, then walked away pretending that it never happened, said SFPD Capt. Al Casciato.
A security guard called 911 after seeing the woman give birth on 5th and Stevenson streets. When an ambulance arrived, a 5-pound, 12-ounce baby boy was found alive and kicking, but his mother was nowhere to be found, said Casciato.
Officers found Matthews, 33, who has no known local address, about two blocks away and covered in blood.
"She denied having a baby, but her clothing was soaked in blood," Casciato said.
The baby was taken to San Francisco General Hospital and placed in the custody of Child Protective Services. The boy did not appear to be injured and was listed in good condition, police said.
Police had to restrain Matthews, who exhibited psychotic behavior and appeared to be suffering from mental illness, said Casciato. He observed that the sidewalk birth was, in a way, probably "the best thing that could have happened to that child."
The scenario was reminiscent of a March 9 birth that occurred on an Oakland sidewalk, authorities said.
