Toronto - Mother who abandoned newborn Dec. 21st, 2025 in shoebox inside church, now charged - 2026

[LadyL]

First, the baby is alive and healthy. Second, there are no safe haven laws in Canada. In fact, there are people trying to stop the implementation of safe haven baby boxes, which there are very few of throughout the country. Apparently parents can drop off infants at hospitals but it is not anonymous and the parent(s) will be investigated. So I'm confused if the baby boxes that do exist are legal. What does everyone think about them laying charges in this case?

On Monday, Jan. 5, police provided an update, confirming the mother has now been charged with abandoning a child and parent not providing necessaries of life – endangering life. Police have not released the mother’s name to protect the child’s identity.

Charges laid after baby discovered in shoebox at Toronto church

Police have laid charges against the mother of a newborn baby who was discovered abandoned in a shoebox inside a Midtown church.

toronto.citynews.ca

 

[Ceedee]

This woman was probably in crisis (mentally, in a terrible personal situation or both). She left her baby in a church on a Sunday - somewhere warm and dry and where she knew she’d be found. I doubt this will make it to a trial but still, what benefit is there in charging her?

 

[LordMo]

This woman was probably in crisis (mentally, in a terrible personal situation or both). She left her baby in a church on a Sunday - somewhere warm and dry and where she knew she’d be found. I doubt this will make it to a trial but still, what benefit is there in charging her?

yeah, like if she couldn't raise the baby as things currently stood, how does hitting her with jail time or fines improve the baby's situation?

 

[CptCari]

We aren't teaching anyone anything good. I don't understand why she would be charged with anything. She didn't throw the baby in the woods or hurt it. I think the world, as a collective whole, would prefer these actions to any alternatives.