Yolo County deputies removed a seven-day-old infant from a makeshift tent beneath the I‑5 overpass near County Road 19A after responding to a tip on Sept. 9. Authorities reported hazardous conditions at the site, including suspected methamphetamine pipes, large piles of trash, rotten food and unsanitary sleeping arrangements. The newborn was medically evaluated, taken to Woodland Memorial Hospital and later transferred to a Sacramento County NICU; deputies placed the child into protective custody. Both parents were arrested on child endangerment charges; Rivera pleaded not guilty and was released under court supervision.
Newborn Rescued From Makeshift Tent Under I‑5 Overpass; Parents Arrested on Child Endangerment Charges
I-5 freeway overpass near County Road in Yolo CountyCredit: Yolo County Sheriff's Office/Facebook
Yolo County deputies removed a seven-day-old infant from a makeshift tent beneath the I‑5 freeway overpass near County Road 19A after responding to a tip about a couple and their newborn living at the site, authorities said.
Deputies say they arrived on Sept. 9 and found 48-year-old Fernando Esparza, 29-year-old Melissa Rivera and the week-old infant sheltering directly beneath the busy freeway. The Yolo County Sheriff's Office published a social media post about the incident on Sept. 17.
What Officials Found
Investigators described the camp conditions as hazardous. Detectives reported discovering numerous suspected methamphetamine pipes, large piles of trash, rotten food, and sleeping arrangements consisting of a dirt floor with no bedding. They also documented vomit on a mattress and feces inside a baby carrier. The mother's placenta and umbilical cord were reportedly found in a nearby garbage bag.
Immediate Response and Medical Care
Because of concerns for the infant's safety, deputies removed the newborn from the scene and placed the child into protective custody. Emergency medical technicians with AMR evaluated the baby before the infant was taken to Woodland Memorial Hospital for further assessment. The child was later transferred to a neonatal intensive care unit in Sacramento County for additional evaluation.
Legal and Child Welfare Actions
Both parents were arrested on child endangerment charges, officials said. Rivera appeared in Yolo County Superior Court on Sept. 16, pleaded not guilty and was released under court supervision; her next hearing is scheduled for Oct. 13. No immediate update on Esparza's custody status was available.
Child Welfare Services and Yolo County detectives responded to the scene and are involved in the ongoing investigation. The sheriff's office said the parents acknowledged the dangerous conditions and told investigators they had planned to take the baby to a hospital at a later time.
Because authorities determined there were immediate safety concerns, law enforcement placed the infant into protective custody while the investigation continues.
If you suspect child abuse or neglect, contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child (1-800-422-4453) or visit www.childhelp.org. The hotline is toll-free, confidential and available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
Source: Yolo County Sheriff's Office; reporting reviewed from PEOPLE.
Help us improve.
