Horror stories of women not realizing they are pregnant continue to show up in the news. There was even a TLC reality show about the subject called I Didn't Know I Was Pregnant, which aired from 2009 to 2011. One new mom in New York City could have been featured on it.
Lucia Garcia is now facing charges for allegedly accidentally throwing away her baby. She claims to have not known she was pregnant and admits to throwing away what she thought was just blood. She hopes to be reunited with her child soon.
Lucia migrated from Mexico to New York City around 10 months ago and is 21 years old. Her father took her to the hospital because she was not feeling well. Allegedly neither of them knew she was pregnant.
The alleged crime took place at the hospital. The baby boy was found in a trash can by a security guard and cleaning crew who heard him crying. Lucia claims she thought she was just throwing away blood.
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“I didn’t know I put my baby in the trash until the nurse told me later. I thought it was just blood,” Lucia told the New York Post.
Lucia was arrested on May 20, 2023, at the Staten Island University Hospital. She faces two counts of assault, two counts of reckless endangerment, and one count of acting in a manner injurious to a child. She maintains her innocence.
Lucia’s son is now in the custody of NYC Children’s Services. The baby remains hospitalized at NYU Langone. Lucia wants him back.
“I don’t know when I’m going to get him back,” Lucia said. “I want him back. I want to take care of him. I just want my baby back.”
Lucia’s next court date is scheduled for June 16, 2023.
Lucia met the father of the baby boy on Facebook. He lives in Manhattan but visited her in State Island a couple of times. He is unaware of the birth of his son because Lucia’s phone was taken from her when she was arrested.
“How am I going to tell him when I don’t have any way to contact him?” Lucia said. “He is going to have to pay for all of this,” she added.
Lucia’s introduction to motherhood might have been bumpy, but she is now embracing it. “At first, I didn’t know if I was ready to be a mom,” she explained. “I thought I had made an error — but now I just want him here with me.”
