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Wilmington 21-year-old charged with attempted murder after newborn left in trash

Police found the woman who they say left a newborn baby in a trashcan on Thursday.

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WILMINGTON, N.C. — Police found the woman who they say left a newborn baby in a trashcan on Thursday.

Maryuri Estefany Calix-Macedo, 21, has been charged with attempted first-degree murder, officials said. She was taken to New Hanover Regional Medical Center for an assessment and later booked in jail.

Police said the baby is healthy and doing well.

A woman walking her dog along Fairview Drive Thursday afternoon heard the baby’s cries coming from the trash can and rescued the child.

While Calix-Macedo was charged with a crime, North Carolina law allows parents to surrender an infant if they believe they can't adequately care for the child to a designated "safe haven" location with no questions asked and without facing arrest or other penalties for abandonment.

Safe havens include:

  • Hospitals
  • Health departments
  • Community health centers
  • Police and sheriff’s departments
  • Social services departments
  • Fire or emergency stations.
This story originally appeared on WECT News.