crime

Newborn girl found on Ibaraki roadside

54 Comments

A newborn girl, with her umbilical cord still attached, was found by the side of a narrow road in Hokota, Ibaraki Prefecture, on Tuesday morning.

A woman who lived nearby was quoted by police as saying she heard what she thought was a baby crying at around 6:30 a.m. and went outside to investigate, Fuji TV reported. Her family brought the naked infant inside and called 110.

The temperature was about 12 degrees at the time and the woman said the baby had turned a purplish color. The child was taken to hospital and is in a stable condition, police said.

Police are examining street surveillance camera footage to try and find out who left the baby by the side of the road.

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54 Comments
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But the "doubt" must be reasonable.

It is reasonable. If she hadn't wanted the baby found, she could have put it in a place where it would never be found in time to save it.

Nothing in this story to prove she wanted the baby dead.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

But the "doubt" must be reasonable. If this went to trial, she'd have to cop a plea because no jury would agree with you.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Her intent was for the baby to die of exposure.

That's your theory, but there isn't actually anything so far to prove it.

As I said, she left the baby somewhere where it was found. That leaves doubt as to whether or not she intended for the baby to die.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

She left it in a place where the baby was found

It's not like she left her at a hospital or an orphanage for Pete's sake. She intentionally dumped her naked body on the side of the road like a piece of trash early on a cold morning. She would likely have died if that woman hadn't heard her crying. Her intent was for the baby to die of exposure.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Is that supposed to be contradicting the statement I made? If it is, I don't see anything in your post that proves an intent to kill. If it isn't, I'm not seeing the relevance to the comment you quoted to the comment you made.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

If she wanted the baby dead, she could have easily killed it. She left it in a place where the baby was found. I don't see anything that proves an intent to kill.

Of course I have no clue about how Japanese law reads on the topic. But in the States (of course laws vary by state), the willful doing of a dangerous and reckless act with wanton indifference to the consequences is called acting with "depraved-indifference" and would subject her to attempted murder charges, since the baby lived, or murder charges if she had died.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Just agree to disagree on the minor details.

I hate this term 'agree to disagree'. I disagree to disagree.

But that said, I agree with Clueless' comment:

But, debate is good. Sure we disagree on a few points but wouldn't it be boring if we didn't?

I think our discourse was civilized and was good debate. And in this debate, it allows us to hash out different ideas. I know many users will never be swayed from their beliefs through debate, but personally I'm open-minded and there have been many posts on this site that have caused me to re-think what I had thought and take on a different opinion.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

@Aly

Thanks mate.

But, debate is good. Sure we disagree on a few points but wouldn't it be boring if we didn't?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Find the woman that gave birth to this baby, I refuse to refer to her as the mother, and surgically sterilize her! She gave up the right to have any child as soon as she left this one to die!

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Clueless and Strangerland,

Just agree to disagree on the minor details. When the mother is caught, and she probably will be, we'll know more about her intentions and motive.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

zones2surf: You might want to revisit the math there. C-to-F conversion is 12 x 9/5 +32 = 53.6 F. As 21 F would be below freezing.

OK, thanks.

I'm not doing that stuff in my head. From looking at man pages (just now), you have to specify absolute temperatures in functional notation as tempX not degX, when using the units unix tool.

'units ... 12 degC' gives 21.6 degF.

'units ... tempC(12)' gives 53.6 tempF.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Baby safe - good. Mother - somewhere, in need of help. What about the male who impregnated her?

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Thank goodness for the woman who cared enough to go find that precious baby in good time. But for a country that frowns upon foster care and adoption, I have to wonder what the future holds for this innocent child. Godspeed little one!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Thank God. It's nothing short of a miracle she was found alive in such cold conditions.

I hope a responsible, loving couple ends up adopting her. She deserves at least that much after all this.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

@turbotstat,

12 deg C = 21 deg F. And not found til 6:30 AM, purple!

You might want to revisit the math there. C-to-F conversion is 12 x 9/5 +32 = 53.6 F. As 21 F would be below freezing.

Regardless, still way way too cold for a newborn baby to be left outside naked / without any cover.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

12 deg C = 21 deg F. And not found til 6:30 AM, purple!

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

Not a case of wanting it dead mate.

Which is what I said in the first place:

It's not a given that she didn't want the baby to live

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Not a case of wanting it dead mate. She just showed a complete disregard as to whether the child lived or died.

agree.. she wanted NOTHING to do with the baby when she left the baby on the street... Not mentioned here but it was actually raining in Ibaraki when the baby was found. 12C degree in the rain, naked on the street.. sure she didn't actually kill the baby right there but she left her there like she had nothing to do with the baby anymore and went on with her life.

Selfish.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

" I assume this is a case of natal depression. "

I would rather guess a clueless teenager who acted in panic. Anyway, it is amazing the baby survived, and I hope a nice family will adopt her.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Not a case of wanting it dead mate.

She just showed a complete disregard as to whether the child lived or died.

Unforgivable….No excuses needed.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

The baby has as much right to life as you or I.

I agree

It doesn't take the brains of an archbishop to realize that dumping a naked kid on the street in the way she did wouldn't end well.

But it did end well - the baby was found. If she had have really wanted it dead, wouldn't she have put it somewhere where it definitely would not have been found? Or killed it herself for that matter.

Dude…can't see where you think there is no intent?

I'm not saying that it's 100% she didn't want it dead, but I'm not seeing anything that proves that she did.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

The baby has as much right to life as you or I. Anyone for that matter. It doesn't take the brains of an archbishop to realize that dumping a naked kid on the street in the way she did wouldn't end well. Dude…can't see where you think there is no intent?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I don't disagree with any of what you say, but none of what you say proves that she wanted the baby dead.

But to leave it in such circumstances and had the baby died….manslaughter minimum!!

Exactly - it would have been manslaughter, and manslaughter is when there isn't intent.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

@Strangerland

If she wanted the baby dead, she could have easily killed it. She left it in a place where the baby was found. I don't see anything that proves an intent to kill. So how is my quote incorrect?

Then it would have been murder.

Look…the baby was butt naked and fresh out the "oven" It still had the cord attached!!

I don't care how mentally anguished these mothers claim to be. It takes nothing to wrap the kid up and leave it outside a police station or hospital. Even rap on a strangers door and bail out would do.

But to leave it in such circumstances and had the baby died….manslaughter minimum!!

No defense…No crying "I was depressed"

She just tossed it away like a piece of garbage.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

If this is really occurring and more than a one off than the underlying reasons (lack of public support/affordable day care/maternity leave/cost of living/education etc) which give rise to these drastic actions taken by various people across the country need to be addressed before headhunting the mother

0 ( +1 / -1 )

What planet are you on if you think the above quote was true?

If she wanted the baby dead, she could have easily killed it. She left it in a place where the baby was found. I don't see anything that proves an intent to kill. So how is my quote incorrect?

-4 ( +3 / -6 )

I assume this is a case of natal depression. Mental healthy is a huge problem in todays affluence societies. Some country are addressing this problem some are totally ignoring it. I feel Japan is one of the later with a abnormally high suicide and infanticide side rate.

2 ( +2 / -1 )

@Strangerland

It's not a given that she didn't want the baby to live - she may have left it there with the intention of someone finding it.

Dude, you make some good comments but sometimes I think you just like to fish for attention. What planet are you on if you think the above quote was true?

2 ( +4 / -3 )

Glad she was rescued and the Mom had the decency to carry her full term and not do a quick disposal like the Plan Parenthood dishrag supporters advocate.

No one advocates abortion. People advocate allowing women to get an abortion if that's the right choice for them.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

Glad the infant survived and is in stable condition. Tally a +1 to the declining national birth rate, yay!

Throw the mother behind bars for a while if gets caught.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

@ Davnetcat "Glad she was rescued and the Mom had the decency to carry her full term and not do a quick disposal like the Plan Parenthood dishrag supporters advocate." kind of goes out the window once you choose to leave the newborn on the street though hey... But yer social darwinism/planned parenthood is a scary scary thing.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Glad she was rescued and the Mom had the decency to carry her full term and not do a quick disposal like the Plan Parenthood dishrag supporters advocate.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

Japan you never fail to shock me first thing in the morning!

3 ( +4 / -1 )

DisillusionedNOV. 04, 2015 - 10:17AM JST

So, dumping a new-born baby on the side of the road does not show intent to kill? How do you come to that conclusion? If the person/s responsible did not want the baby to live they wanted it to die, right? That is intent to kill.

If she wanted to kill the baby she would have done so. Teenage mothers (and I presuppose that she is a young mother) are often under extreme social and psychological stress and "dump" the baby. "Baby dumping refers to parents abandoning or discarding a child younger than 12 months in a public or private place with the intent of disposing of them." They don't necessarily want kill the child, they just don't want it.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

It's not a given that she didn't want the baby to live - she may have left it there with the intention of someone finding it.

but at least wrap up the baby in a warm blanket, have a piece of paper with the baby's date of birth, time and so on, and instead of leaving the baby on the street, perhaps somewhere warmer.

not being able to take care of a baby doesn't equal to leaving the baby to die.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

It's not a given that she didn't want the baby to live - she may have left it there with the intention of someone finding it.

-12 ( +1 / -12 )

MikeRowave - Attempted murder presupposes an intent to kill. We don't know the mind of the mother. Judges and juries tend to be lenient in these kind of cases as the mother without support system maybe under extreme duress and unable to make the right decision.

So, dumping a new-born baby on the side of the road does not show intent to kill? How do you come to that conclusion? If the person/s responsible did not want the baby to live they wanted it to die, right? That is intent to kill.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

Would live to raise a baby!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

IN this case timing was vital. I am so happy she was found sooner than later!

3 ( +4 / -1 )

sad, wish the baby grow up strong and with cheerful personality, even though life will be hard for her.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

I would've taken her and raised her... I pray that she makes it.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

HULK MAD! Dam these people to hell... how can you be human and throw away a baby like that. I hope they catch the mother (if you can call them that) and educate

1 ( +2 / -1 )

I know a nurse who works in a Japanese ER. She tells me that for a baby to be abandoned in Japan is not that unusual. What is unusual was that the baby wasn't abandoned at or near a hospital like most are.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

DisillusionedNOV. 04, 2015 - 07:55AM JST It seems that it's not just the weather that's cold in ibaraki. Gladly, this kid has a chance to live. The baby would not have lasted very long on its own. The person/s responsible should be charged with attempted murder.

Attempted murder presupposes an intent to kill. We don't know the mind of the mother. Judges and juries tend to be lenient in these kind of cases as the mother without support system maybe under extreme duress and unable to make the right decision.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

My daughter will become one year old this month. These news used to disgust me but having your own child completely changes these feelings to a deep sadness. That poor girl. None of whatever moved the person who left her there was her fault. I believe it is time for a nationwide campaign against the murder and abandoning of children. People need to understand that they don't have to ruin their childrens lives just because they can't get their own s**t together... Why do we treat life like that.

Maybe state supported abortion would have prevented an unwanted child?

What happened in this case? Mother left her? Father forced her? If they ever get to experience parenthood they might understand and feel guilty for the rest of their lives.

If they get caught, I believe they should spend the rest of their lives in a cell.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

A Japanese Moses in myth....

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

Sad, sad, sad....humanity is doing this kind of stuffs.....the best wishes for the baby girl her time was not yet over. That's a miracle!

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Our little one was just born this month. We were heartbroken when we watched the news. Hope this little one has a chance at a happy life. Unlike the body of the newborn girl found in Hasuda a few weeks ago. It hits you so much harder when you have your own baby.

10 ( +9 / -0 )

It seems that it's not just the weather that's cold in ibaraki. Gladly, this kid has a chance to live. The baby would not have lasted very long on its own. The person/s responsible should be charged with attempted murder.

5 ( +7 / -3 )

What a terrible way to start life, but thank goodness for woman who heard crying and went outside to investigate. This little one has a tough road ahead of her, but at least she has a chance at life thanks to the woman's actions.

15 ( +14 / -0 )

And was left to die in the cold... :-(

You don't say!

-6 ( +0 / -6 )

I don't understand people, and how they can do things like this. If they don't want the baby, find someone else who does. My wife and I would happily take her.

14 ( +13 / -1 )

"the baby had turned a purplish color"

And was left to die in the cold... :-(

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Pls, don't give back the baby when the mother is IDd.

11 ( +11 / -0 )

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