Mother sought after injured 12-month-old found abandoned outside SW Houston apartment complex, police say

HOUSTON – The Houston Police Department said the baby boy who was left alone at a southwest Houston apartment complex has been identified by family members, and the search is now on for his mother.

The infant, who family members said is 12 months old, was found around 12:40 p.m. Tuesday by a gate inside the complex located at 10300 S. Wilcrest Drive. He was found in an open area in between the apartment buildings by a resident and an employee.

Investigators said the child was left without a carrier or blanket, but police located some items that belonged to the child a few feet away from where he was found.

The baby was taken to a hospital and treated for minor injuries to his mouth. Investigators said the injuries were sustained while the child was navigating around the area alone. He was released from the hospital and into CPS custody.

Officials were baffled because they had the child for a day before releasing information to the media, yet no one came forward to claim him.

After the story aired on the news and swept online platforms, police said the aunt of the child reached out to the department and gave information about the baby and provided his mother’s name.

At a news conference Thursday, investigators said they were not releasing specific information about the mother because they do not know what situation or circumstance she may be enduring. They did say, however, that her age is between 30 and 40 years old.

So far, police said they have made contact with the child’s father, who said he wants custody of his son. He did not know that the boy was missing and does not know the whereabouts of the mother. Another family member said they, too, would like to raise the child.

Police said charges could be filed against the mother in the future, depending on the outcome of the investigation. It is currently unknown who had custody of the child when he was abandoned. Police said neither the child’s mother nor father lived in the apartment complex where he was abandoned.

Police are asking for the mother to come forward so they can understand how she became separated from her baby. They also noted that this is not a missing person case.