Mother Apprehended After Abandoning Newborn: A Heartbreaking Rescue Story
After almost four years since a newborn baby was cruelly discarded in the woods, left to die in a yellow shopping bag, the mother has finally been apprehended. She now faces multiple criminal charges, including attempted murder.
A Miraculous Rescue
In 2019, a baby girl named India was discovered in a knotted bag with her umbilical cord still attached. Covered in placenta and blood, she was heard crying by a compassionate family living nearby.
Alan Ragatz and his four children returned home on a scorching June day in Cummings, Georgia. As they were about to settle in for the night, his teenage daughters alerted him to a strange cry coming from the surrounding woods. Intrigued and unwilling to dismiss it as an animal, they grabbed flashlights and followed the sound.
“We found a bundle that looked like a wrapped-up bathmat. When we opened it, we discovered a baby girl inside, placed in what appeared to be a tied Publix bag,” said Ragatz. The baby, still connected to her umbilical cord and with remnants of the placenta, lay on a pile of leaves and sticks.
The news was met with terror and tears from the Ragatz family. They referred to the baby as a “fighter” and emphasized that they held no judgment against whoever committed this act. Despite the shock, they recognized the need for compassion in society and better alternatives to such desperate actions.
Responding to a 911 call, Forsyth County officials arrived and found the infant, miraculously alive.
The baby girl, later named India, was determined to have been born at full term and likely abandoned on the day she was discovered, according to Sheriff Ron Freeman.
Police released bodycam footage showing the moment the bag was opened and the tiny infant, sobbing, reached out and held the finger of one of the officers. The video was shared in the hope of gaining information about the identity of Baby India and finding closure in the case.
Later, Forsyth County revealed that Baby India was thriving under the care of the Georgia Department of Family and Children Services. The heartwarming response from people worldwide expressing their desire to adopt the baby showcased the incredible compassion that exists in the world.
“It’s amazing the number of people who are looking to take on a new life into their families, and we got somebody who tried to throw one away,” Sheriff Freeman remarked.
Apprehending the Mother
In May 2023, Forsyth County authorities arrested the mother, Karima Jawani, 40, from Atlanta, after an exhaustive search for Baby India’s identity.
Sheriff Freeman, speaking at a press conference, stated, “Four years ago, I stood in this room and promised you that we would bring this person to justice… I had no idea it would take four years.” Advanced DNA techniques played a crucial role in identifying Baby India’s biological father and moving the investigation forward.
Although the detectives successfully identified the father, they had to determine who had abandoned the baby in the woods. Evidence indicated that the baby was born in a car and driven for a significant period by the suspect, Jiwani, who made no effort to leave the child in a location where she could be found.
Family and friends have disclosed that Jiwani has a history of concealed pregnancies and surprise births. However, there is no evidence suggesting that the father was aware of the pregnancy or the subsequent abandonment of the baby.
“This child was tied up in a plastic bag and thrown into the woods like a bag of trash. I can’t understand that,” expressed Sheriff Freeman. “It literally is one of the saddest things I have ever seen.”
Jiwani is currently held without bond and faces charges of aggravated assault, first-degree child cruelty, attempted murder, and reckless abandonment. Sheriff Freeman emphasized that parents who are unable or unwilling to care for a newborn have legal alternatives available to them.
Under the Safe-Haven statute, also known as the Baby Moses law in some areas, a mother can anonymously leave her newborn, who is under 30 days old, at a hospital, fire station, or police station without facing legal consequences.
The National Safe Haven Alliance reported saving 33 illegally abandoned newborns in 2021, but unfortunately, 22 babies were discovered deceased.
“When a biological parent fails to do what they are supposed to do, Forsyth County surrounded this little girl with love, care, and prayers, and lifted her up as it should be,” Sheriff Freeman remarked. Baby India is now happy, healthy, and in a safe environment.
The Ragatz family, who played a pivotal role in saving Baby India’s life, deserves commendation. We are relieved that Karima Jiwani is being held accountable for her appalling actions, as it is inconceivable for a mother to discard her helpless child in such a manner.
How do you feel about this heart-wrenching story?