NEWAYGO COUNTY, Mich. - Detectives in Newaygo County are investigating the discovery of a newborn baby found alongside a dirt road north of White Cloud. Investigators say the newborn was just around six hours old.
The Newaygo County Sheriff's Department said the baby was found at around 10:30 Monday morning by a person walking their dog on West Marion Street near Diamond Lake.
Jeff Kopp was walking her daughters dog Bobby when they made the discovery. He says he usually heads around back to go for a walk but the dog was heading towards the front so he followed. "He didn't really pull, more pointing so went to see what he was interested in and it was a newborn infant."
He says another neighbor came out to help and he went to get his wife and daughter. "When they picked her up and wrapped her up she started to cry which was a good sign and my wife prayed and we waited for the ambulance."
Kopp says hes just thankful he happened to take that way. "I'm a man of faith and I believe we were led there because I dont go that way with the dog."
Jeff's daughter says the baby's umbilical cord was still attached. "It wasn't a pretty sight but I'm glad she is going to be OK," she said.
An ambulance transported the child to a nearby hospital, investigators at the scene say the newborn is expected to be OK.
The mother of the child was tracked down, then was hospitalized to be checked out. She lived nearby and neighbors say she was a young teenager.
Deputies say the investigation is ongoing.
Michigan does have a Safe Haven Law which protects mothers who abandon their child up to three days old. The infant must be dropped off at a fire station, hospital, police station or any emergency service provider in the state.
