Missing newborn found with help of ‘vigilant’ electric worker, Oregon officials say
A missing newborn baby boy was found with help from an electric company employee, Oregon officials said.
The worker called police after he recognized a pickup truck from an alert sent out by the Oregon Department of Human Services, KATU reported. He saw the “truck at a vacant home and heard a baby cry.”
A Portland Police Bureau officer responded to the call and found “Baby Zee, who was alive and seemed to be doing well,” police tweeted Thursday, Aug. 4.
The baby was 10 days old, weighing five pounds and 15 ounces, when the Oregon Department of Human Services put out an alert asking for the public’s help to find him on Wednesday, Aug. 3. A photo of the parents’ truck was also attached to the release.
The infant, who had a feeding tube, and his parents disappeared from the hospital in Portland on Monday, Aug. 1, according to officials, who added he may be in danger.
“They may be planning to leave the state or the country,” the alert said.
Officer Jordan Zaitz told KATU said happy endings like these make the job worthwhile. She said the baby had been born with fentanyl in his system.
“In the long run, I hope his parents get him the care that he needs, and they’re able to give him a good life. At the very least, he’s in a hospital getting the proper care that he needs,” Zaitz told the outlet.
This story was originally published August 8, 2022 at 1:14 PM with the headline "Missing newborn found with help of ‘vigilant’ electric worker, Oregon officials say."
