July 4, 2000

An abandoned baby found in a vacant apartment--her mother no where to be found, at least not anytime soon.

Then almost 24 hours after her child was found, the woman shows up asking questions and looking for her child. News Specialist Jill Atwood has the story.

It's an apartment complex full of kids. And while a crying baby may be common place here, one left alone certainly is not.

Tauni Lee/Resident & Mother: "I'M DEVASTATED. MY HEART JUST GOES OUT TO SOMEONE WHO'S SO HELPLESS AND JUST LEFT."

Tauni Lee's daughter, Kaiisha, actually found the little girl. Her name is Corrine.

JILL ATWOOD, EYEWITNESS NEWS: "KAIISHA LEE SAYS SHE WAS RIDING HER BIKE PAST THE VACANT APARTMENT WHEN SHE HEARD THE BABY CRYING. THAT'S WHEN SHE STOPPED, WENT INSIDE AND FOUND THE BABY DIRTY, SUNBURNED, AND VERY THIRSTY."

Kaiisha Lee/Found Baby: "I TOOK THE BABY OUT AND I LEFT MY BIKE THERE BUT BROUGHT IT BACK TO MY HOUSE AND GAVE THE BABY TO MY MOM."

Tauni Lee: "SHE JUST FELL ASLEEP ON MY SHOULDER WHEN WE STARTED WALKING AROUND TRYING TO FIND OUT WHO SHE BELONGED TO."

The child was never reported missing. The mother's whereabouts were a mystery until almost 24 hours later, when she showed up asking about her baby. That's when police decided it was time for some questions of their own.

Darin Sweeten/South Salt Lake Police Dept.: "OBVIOUSLY THIS CHILD'S NEEDS WEREN'T BEING MET. SO SOMEBODY DROPPED THE BALL HERE."

But a close friend of the mother says it was all just a misunderstanding. She says the child must have just wandered off. All the while, Mom thought little Corrine was spending time with her aunt.

Jody/Mother's Friend: "SHE DID NOT NEGLECT THE CHILD. IT WAS A MIX-UP. HER AUNT CALLED ME THIS MORNING, FIGURED OUT WE DIDN'T HAVE THE BABY--NEITHER ONE OF THEM."

The child is in foster care right now. As for the mother, no charges have been filed yet but they are still a possibility.

A custody hearing could take place tomorrow on what's best for Corrine in the long-term.