Child left in apartment is identified

7/15/2007

Authorities now know the identity of a toddler left in an abandoned home Friday, but yesterday they were saying little more than that.

They also would not identify the child or the mother. No one has been charged in the case.

Julie Malkin, spokesman for Lucas County Children Services, said someone contacted the agency late Friday afternoon as offices were closing for the weekend. Authorities then began piecing together information about the mother of the child.

The 2-year-old was found by neighbors about 10:45 a.m at 404 Oak Street. A man who had been at the address said the child's mother, whom he had just met, spent the night then left the apartment alone.

Ms. Malkin would not say whether agency officials had spoken to the child's mother.

The child will remain at a foster home at least until Monday when investigators can determine whether she should be returned to her mother, stay with relatives, or remain in foster care, Ms. Malkin said.