An 18-year-old San Antonio mother is charged with abandoning and endangering a child after police say she handed her infant son to a stranger at a downtown bus stop last Sunday, telling the woman she wanted to give the baby away. The child, identified as 1 month old, was later placed with relatives following the mother’s arrest.
Jennifer Benavides told KSAT she was waiting at a downtown San Antonio bus stop last Sunday night when a woman she did not know asked to use her phone.
“Very beautiful baby. Handsome. 1 month old,” Benavides said. “So, she’s like, ‘Well, do you want him? I’m going to give him away. I’m going to give him to somebody.'”
Police identified the woman as 18-year-old Karla Ibarra. Benavides said Ibarra then handed her the baby’s birth certificate, Medicaid card and Social Security card.
“She begins handing me his birth certificate, his Medicaid, his Social Security card,” Benavides said.
Benavides said she tried to get help from a friend who lives nearby and brought Ibarra to the friend’s home. Benavides said Ibarra called an Uber and left her son behind.
Police were called, and Ibarra later returned to the home, where she was arrested. She is charged with abandoning and endangering a child with intent to return.
“It’s upsetting to know that, with even all the resources that we have out there, that somebody would just do this,” Benavides said.
Benavides said she was glad she was in the right place at the right time to help.
After Ibarra’s arrest, Child Protective Services confirmed her son was placed with other relatives.
Under Texas’ Baby Moses Law, a parent is allowed to anonymously and legally surrender an unharmed newborn who is 60 days old or younger without facing criminal penalties.
Parents must take the baby to a designated emergency infant care location, such as a fire station, EMS station or hospital, and physically hand the child to an employee. Some locations also offer Safe Baby Boxes.
