“I can’t take care of her, I resign my rights. Don’t judge me. God will forgive me”.

These were the words in a note found with a newborn baby who was abandoned in one of the benches of the Cartago cathedral on Friday morning.

The identity of the mother and the baby are still unknown, but the investigation continues; the baby, Red Cross personnel that evaluated the baby’s health first estimated she had been born about 12 hours prior, she was found in a cardboard box and was transferred that same day to the Max Peralta Hospital in Cartago and according to hospital personnel and PANI (Child Welfare Agency Costa Rica) she is in good conditions.

PANI along with the Judicial Investigative Police (OIJ) are trying to find the baby’s family and investigate whether any of the family members are in a position to receive and take care of the girl. In the event that they are unable to locate the family PANI will likely place her in a temporary home. The procedure will then include declaring her in abandonment before being able to put her up for adoption.