Parents arrested after 7-day-old baby found living under I-5 overpass
By Jeremiah Martinez
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YOLO COUNTY, Calif. (KCRA) — Two parents were arrested after deputies found a newborn baby living in a makeshift tent under an Interstate 5 overpass in Yolo County, according to the sheriff’s office.
The Yolo County Sheriff’s Office said deputies responded to a tip on Sept. 9 of a man and woman living under the I-5 overpass near County Road 19A. When deputies arrived at the location, they found Fernando Esparza, 29, and Melissa, 29, along with their 7-day-old baby.
The baby was immediately removed from the area and was taken to Woodland Memorial Hospital for evaluation. The baby was then transported to a neonatal intensive care unit in Sacramento County.
Detectives responded to the scene to launch an investigation into the baby’s welfare. Child Welfare Services also responded to the area.
During the investigation, the sheriff’s office said detectives documented “hazardous living conditions” under the overpass. Conditions included suspected methamphetamine pipes, trash, rotten food, vomit on a mattress, sleeping accommodations on the dirt floor without bedding, vomit on a mattress.
During the investigation, detectives documented hazardous living conditions, including numerous suspected methamphetamine smoking pipes, accumulated trash, rotten food, sleeping accommodations on the dirt floor without bedding, vomit on a mattress, and feces inside a baby carrier, the sheriff’s office said.
Detectives also found the mother’s placenta and umbilical cord in a nearby garbage bag, according to the sheriff’s office.
The parents told deputies they were waiting to take their child to the hospital at a later date, the sheriff’s office said.
Esparza and Rivera were arrested on child endangerment charges and have been booked into the Yolo County Jail. The child was placed into protective custody.
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