Poplar Bluff mother found, may face charges of abandoning infant

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. — Now that a Poplar Bluff mother has been found, she may face charges of abandoning her infant daughter who was left home alone earlier this week.

Poplar Bluff officers reportedly learned about 9 a.m. Wednesday that Jasmine Baldazo had checked herself into a local hospital, where “she’s at right now,” detective Josh Stewart said.

Authorities had been looking for the 19-year-old since about 9:30 a.m. Monday, when her 8-month-old daughter was found alone inside a home in the 300 block of West Midland Street.

The infant was crying in her crib, in what was described as a “heavily saturated” diaper. An empty bottle also was found in the crib, and a box fan was blowing on her.

After finding clothing for an older child in the home, authorities began their search for her and her mother. The toddler was found Tuesday afternoon with her paternal grandmother in Arkansas.

Stewart said Baldazo originally told him in an interview at the hospital she left her daughter Sunday evening.

Baldazo later estimated “it was more around 1 a.m.” Monday, Stewart said. “Basically, she said, she was overwhelmed. That’s why she took the 2-year-old to the grandmother in Arkansas at some point and had her watching her.”

Stewart said Baldazo told him she “just left. She stayed in town the whole time at a friend’s house.”

Stewart said he was told Baldazo “just walked into the hospital” Wednesday morning.

Apparently when Baldazo checked in at the hospital, she told them she wanted to speak with the Division of Family Services/Missouri Children’s Division, Stewart said.

“I don’t know if they called DFS for her or not,” but at some point, someone “notified us,” he said.

During the interview, Stewart said, Baldazo indicated she was “clueless” as to why a man was in her home Monday morning.

According to earlier reports, a black male in his 20s exited the home, told a neighbor the infant was alone inside and left to check places where Baldazo might have been.

The neighbor went into the home, found the infant and contacted authorities.

“(Baldazo) said no one was supposed to be in the house, (but) she couldn’t recall if she left the door unlocked or not,” Stewart said.

When questioned about possible drug use, Baldazo denied any use of illegal substances, Stewart said.

Pertinent address:

Poplar Bluff, Mo.