Newborn Left at Duluth Shelter Triggers Police Investigation

DULUTH, Minn. – Search warrants for the Safe Haven Shelter in Duluth show an ongoing investigation, after a staff member called police to report a newborn was abandoned outside in subzero temperatures.

Around 5:00 pm on January 21, Duluth Police responded to a call from the Safe Haven Shelter. According to warrant applications, Shelter Director Ethan Powers had found a newborn child, bundled in a basket, outside of the shelter. Powers also told police he saw a female leaving the area in a vehicle.

Police requested exterior camera footage from Safe Haven to help identify the person who left the child. Officers stated they were concerned that the infant was left in the cold, and that they could not confirm that the person who left the baby, was the mother.

The shelter denied police’s request for the video without a warrant.

When police returned with a warrant, Safe Haven Executive Director Brittany Robb allegedly “denied it’s validity” and only allowed officers to review the footage at the shelter.

The exterior cameras allegedly show the unidentified woman go inside of Safe Haven.

In the warrant application, police report interviewing Powers who “stated that a staff member spoke with this woman and was told that she couldn’t care for the child and then left this child in the care of Safe Haven staff.”

Police’s continued concerns with whether the woman on video is the infant’s mother, resulted in a second search warrant for all interior and exterior camera footage from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm on January 21.

Duluth Police did confirm that their investigation remains ongoing; and said that the infant is safe and healthy.

Speaking over the phone on Friday, January 31, Safe Haven’s Executive Director Brittany Robb stated she could not speak to specific incidents, but did say: “Well, you know, I can’t comment on any specific circumstances, that have been, you know, with or around our shelter or, you know, any of the folks that might be seeking our services. But what I can say is we always encourage people who are struggling to reach out for help in the way that feels the safest for them. And then we’re always happy to help connect them with the appropriate service provider, if that’s not us.”

The warrant applications mention Minnesota State Statute 145.902; also referred to as the “Give Life a Chance” law. The law allows mothers to surrender newborns who are under seven-days old to “safe spaces” such as hospitals, urgent care facilities, or ambulance services. When the mother, or someone with the mother’s permission, surrenders the child to a qualified “safe space,” they are not required to leave any information.