Baby Found Abandoned At Columbus Circle Subway Station

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A baby was in the care of the New York City Administration for Child Services Monday night, after she was found abandoned at the 59th Street-Columbus Circle subway station.

Just before noon, a woman was on a northbound No. 1 train with a baby in a stroller, police said. When the train arrived at the station, the woman allegedly pushed the stroller onto the platform. The doors closed, and the train left the station.

The baby girl, who police said is 6 to 7 months old, was taken to Mount Sinai-Roosevelt Hospital for evaluation, CBS 2's Tracee Carrasco reported.

The infant was wearing a white and red top, black leggings and a diaper when she was found alone on the platform by a 33-year-old woman, who waited for about 20 minutes with the child for the woman to return, sources told CBS 2.

The woman never returned.

Police released a photo of the girl Monday night holding her bottle in the red stroller with white polka dots that she was abandoned in.

Police said there were no apparent signs of trauma. The baby had a bandage on her hand and a slight rash, but was otherwise unhurt, sources said.

The child was out of the hospital late Monday, and was to be in care of the Administration for Children's Services until her identity is established. There was no identification with her, sources said.

Authorities said it's unclear whether the woman intentionally pushed the stroller from the subway car.

But parents such as Jomal Jacques were left speechless regardless.

"I can't even be away a couple hours away from my son, and for you to do that, that's -- I don't know. I don't even know. I can't really say anything about that," he said.

Police are looking for the woman, who they described as black, 20 to 30 years old, having medium length black hair and last seen wearing a short-sleeved yellow blouse. Police late Monday night released a photo and video of the woman.

Commuters were in shock that someone could put a baby in harm's way at the subway station, where anything could have happened.

"I hope that child has no memory of this horror story," said Irene Kestanuk of the Upper East Side.

Kestanuk said the consequences could have been far worse.

"Thank God the child wasn't pushed into the tracks," Kestanuk told CBS 2's Carrasco. "Thank God for that, but they're going to have to find that woman because that woman is deranged, obviously."

"Anything could have happened to her," added commuter Lindi Wemangondo. "Somebody might have kidnapped the baby – anything."

Police are asking anyone with information about the child to call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-8477 or to submit a tip online at NYPDCrimeStoppers.com.

You May Also Be Interested In These Stories: