Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

DNA reveals three babies abandoned three years apart at same Florida building are siblings

Children were born to the same parents in 2016, 2017 and 2019 

Justin Vallejo
New York
Wednesday 22 April 2020 13:40 BST
Comments
DNA reveals three babies abandoned three years apart at same Florida building are siblings

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Three babies abandoned on three separate occasions at the same apartment complex in Orlando, Florida, have the same biological parents.

Orlando Police Department investigators confirmed on Tuesday that the three babies found at the Willow Key Apartments in 2016, 2017 and 2019 shared the same mother and father.

The findings were first revealed in a memo from detectives seeking funding to analyse DNA of the three children in an effort to track down their missing parents.

Orlando detective Ghena Wasserman Luker wrote that the analogous manner in which all three children were abandoned on a resident's stoop at the Arnold Palmer Drive luxury apartment complex made police believe they must be related.

"A note discovered at the scene explained the baby was left at the location because the mother was in fear of the child's father," Det Luker wrote of the 2019 baby. A similar note was left with the newborn abandoned in 2017.

"Based on the egregious and neglectful behaviour of the parent(s), and the bizarre facts of this case, unlike any other documented case, it is imperative to conduct a well-being check of all involved parties. This cannot be done without the assistance of United Data Connect."

City commissioners approved the $5,000 funding on Monday to hire United Data Connect, which maintains a database of DNA profiles, to track down the parents.

While initial testing had identified several possible family members of the babies, more specialised knowledge from a genetic genealogist was needed to interpret the DNA and determine the parents.

Orlando police said in a statement on Tuesday that while the three infants were confirmed to be siblings, no other details could be shared to protect their identity.

"If we are able to identify the mother, her safety is our top priority, as well as the safety of any other potential children," the police statement said.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in