A magistrate judge at the Cuyahoga County juvenile court ordered a paternity test to determine the mother and father of the baby who was found last month at a Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority bus station in Cleveland, Ohio.
Magistrate Eleanore Hilow issued a paternity test on August 3. to determine the mother and father of the infant, Cuyahoga County spokeswoman Mary Louise Madigan said.
RTA police questioned a woman who claimed to be the baby’s mother on July 17 after they found the child near East 105th Street and Superior with a man named Bennie Anderson, who was later taken to jail by police for a felony warrant.
Related: Ohio Police Identify Woman in Connection to Unidentified Baby Found at Cleveland Bus Stop
Anderson is alleged to be the baby’s father, and is in custody at the Cuyahoga County jail. The child’s mother whereabouts are still unknown, according to court records.
The woman’s DNA will be submitted to the court by RTA police.
Police distributed photos of the woman, who told police her name was “Love Anderson,” to media outlets throughout Cleveland, hoping the public might identify her and clear up questions about the baby’s family. Solon police questioned the woman July 21, but they released her without providing police any valuable information about the baby.
On July 19, two days after the baby was discovered, a judge granted temporary custody to the Cuyahoga County Department of Children and Family Services. Temporary custody means guardianship of a child who is removed from their home may be terminated anytime at the discretion of the court.
The court deemed the baby as dependent, records show. Under Ohio law, a dependent child is one who is homeless without adequate parental care through no fault of the parent or guardian. The parents or guardian of a dependent child could also lack the proper mental or physical health that would allow to properly care for a child.
The infant was about 6-months-old when authorities initially found her. She was taken to a foster home and remains there as of today. The Cuyahoga County Children and Family Services tried to search for family members of the unidentified infant, but the agency delayed its investigation until they can confirm the DNA results, according to Madigan.
Related: Search Continues for Family of Baby Found at Ohio Bus Station
If the paternity test proves “Love Anderson” is the baby’s mother, social workers will perform an extensive background check before they release the infant into her custody, Madigan said.
Those background checks usually include an interview with family members, competency checks, and social workers will check to see if there are any background issues with mental health. Another critical component to the background check is that social workers will ensure the mother could provide a stable home for the baby.
If the mother is proven not to be a good fit for the baby, then family services will reach out to family members to give them a chance to become the baby’s guardian before placing her in a foster home.
“Our main concern is the safety and welfare of the child,” Madigan said.
RTA police has not received any updated information related to this case, RTA spokeswoman Kristie Cox said in a brief interview Wednesday.
This case will be heard again in the juvenile court division on September 28.
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