After an extensive four-year investigation, authorities in Georgia have reportedly solved the perplexing case of a newborn girl who was shockingly abandoned in a wooded area.
The baby’s Indian-origin mother, Karima Jiwani, has been arrested and now faces charges of attempted murder, cruelty to children, and reckless abandonment, according to officials.
Sheriff Ron Freeman of Forsyth County made the announcement on Friday, revealing that DNA evidence conclusively established Jiwani as the baby’s mother.
While talking about the arrest, Freeman expressed his difficulty in using the term “mother” to describe someone who deliberately left her newborn infant to perish. He described the heart-wrenching incident, stating that the child had been bound in a plastic bag and discarded in the woods like a bag of trash. Freeman reflected on the case, stating that he considered the baby’s survival a divine intervention.
The now four-year-old girl, affectionately nicknamed “Baby India” by hospital staff at the time of her discovery, has since been adopted and is reportedly a healthy and happy child. To safeguard her privacy, authorities have refrained from disclosing her identity or providing further details.
Freeman revealed that approximately ten months ago, the child’s father was identified through DNA testing, but he has not been charged in connection with the abandonment as he was reportedly unaware of the mother’s pregnancy.
Reports suggest that Jiwani has a history of concealed pregnancies and unexpected births, with other children ranging in age from school-going to near adulthood.
It has been revealed that Georgia has a Safe Haven Law, which allows mothers to leave their infants at medical facilities, police stations, or fire stations without facing criminal charges. However, Jiwani did not avail herself of these provisions, indicating that she likely gave birth in a vehicle before abandoning the baby.
The rescue of Baby India was made possible by a nearby family who heard the cries of an infant emanating from the woods and promptly alerted the sheriff’s deputies. Their quick action led to the successful recovery of the baby, who received immediate medical attention.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the arrest of Karima Jiwani marks a significant milestone in the resolution of this heartrending case. Authorities are committed to seeking justice for Baby India and ensuring the well-being of the child, whose life was spared through a combination of timely intervention and compassionate care. (Edited)