OMAHA, March 23 (UPI) -- An 18-year-old Omaha, Neb., woman has been charged with felony child abuse after allegedly giving birth and leaving the child alone in a closet.
Police believe Maria Vargas gave birth at her home Saturday night and hid the baby in a closet, KETV-TV, Omaha, reported. Her family reportedly noticed she was bleeding and took her to a hospital. The family told doctors she had been sexually assaulted, police said.
"Additional medical information that was obtained by the emergency room physicians on staff there indicated that an 18-year-old may have recently given birth to a child," said Omaha Police Officer Dave Volenec.
Vargas denied giving birth to the doctors and police, but a search of her home yielded a newborn baby.
"They went to that residence and were able to find the newborn child inside a closet at that residence. The baby was then transported via rescue squad to the University of Nebraska Medical Center for medical treatment," Volenec said.
The baby was five hours old when it was discovered in critical condition.
Vargas was held in jail, and was scheduled to appear in court Wednesday.
