Newborn abandoned in shoebox

LAWRENCE, Ind. – A newborn baby was found in a shoe box on the porch of a home in the northeastern Indianapolis suburb of Lawrence.

Police say two women visiting the home Wednesday morning found the baby girl, who appeared to be “literally hours old.”

Lawrence Detective Gary Woodruff said the infant was wrapped in a towel, and a handwritten note left in the box read, “I can’t take care of my baby. Please help.”

Woodruff said the girl was awake and crying and was taken to Riley Hospital for Children in stable condition. The outside temperature was 14 degrees when the baby was found.

Police were searching for the mother and did not know whether there was a reason why the baby was left at that particular home.