Georgia Mother Arrested After Newborn Found in Hotel Dumpster
COLUMBUS, G.A. — A 22-year-old mother has been arrested after police say she abandoned her newborn in a dumpster outside a Columbus hotel earlier this week.
Baby Found at Budgetel Inn & Suites
The incident occurred Tuesday evening around 6:30 p.m. when authorities discovered the infant inside a dumpster at the Budgetel Inn & Suites on Victory Drive.
The newborn was rushed to Piedmont Columbus Regional Hospital, where doctors said the child was in stable condition as of Friday.
Mother Faces Multiple Charges
Police identified the mother as Zinnia Hernandez, who admitted to giving birth and then leaving the baby in the dumpster.
Hernandez is facing charges of attempted murder, abandonment of a child, first-degree cruelty to children, and reckless conduct.
Authorities have not disclosed how long the baby was inside the dumpster before being found.
Similar Case Remembered
The case echoes a 2019 incident in Forsyth County, where a newborn later nicknamed “Baby India” was found abandoned in a plastic bag in the woods. That mother, Karima Jiwani, was sentenced earlier this year to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to attempted murder and cruelty to children.
Safe Haven Law Reminder
Officials stressed that Georgia’s Safe Haven Law provides protection for mothers who surrender their newborns safely. Under the law, a mother may leave her infant with staff at a hospital, police station, or fire station without facing criminal charges or needing to provide identification.
This tragic case has renewed calls to raise awareness about Safe Haven options to prevent similar situations in the future.
Do you believe Georgia should expand education about Safe Haven laws to ensure mothers in crisis know their options? Share your thoughts with us at SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com.
