Pennsylvania woman allegedly gives birth, leaves baby in restroom toilet

The Lancaster County Courthouse. The Lancaster County DA's office is on the fifth floor.
Screenshot/Google Street View

A Berks County woman allegedly gave birth in an assisted-living facility restroom and left the newborn baby partially submerged in a toilet.

Emmanuella Osei, 23, was charged by Northern Lancaster County Regional police with second-degree felony endangering the welfare or a child. The alleged incident took place Jan. 14.

Cpl. Curtis Ochs, who found the baby boy, performed CPR on the infant. The baby is now at a hospital in critical but stable condition, according to police. The baby is believed to have been left in the toilet for 10 to 15 minutes.

“The quick thinking and actions of Corporal Ochs almost certainly saved this child’s life,” Lancaster County District Attorney Craig Stedman said in a statement.

Osei, according to police, arrived in Reading, Pennsylvania, from Ghana last May and began living with her uncle. She had been working as a care assistant at the assisted-living facility on Parkside Lane the night of the alleged incident.

Police said Osei admitted she went to a Reading emergency room 10 days prior to the alleged incident. She also told police she didn’t attempt to remove the child from the toilet.

An investigation is ongoing.


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