An 18-year-old San Antonio woman allegedly gave her 1-month-old son to a stranger at a downtown bus stop after providing the baby’s birth certificate, Medicaid and Social Security card. The stranger sought help while the mother left in an Uber; police say the woman was arrested when she later returned. The infant was placed with relatives and Child Protective Services was involved. The mother faces charges of abandoning and endangering a child, and bail was set at $7,000.
Teen Mother Allegedly Hands 1-Month-Old to Stranger at San Antonio Bus Stop; Faces Child-Abandonment Charges
Karla IbarraCredit: Bexar County Sheriff's Office
An 18-year-old woman in San Antonio has been arrested after police say she handed her 1-month-old son to a stranger at a downtown bus stop because she no longer wanted the child.
What Happened
According to the San Antonio Police Department and local reports, the incident occurred at about 10:45 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 13. Authorities say Karla Ibarra approached Jennifer Benavides at a downtown bus stop and asked to use her phone. Rather than returning the phone, Ibarra allegedly handed her infant son to Benavides and also gave the woman the baby’s birth certificate, Medicaid paperwork and Social Security card.
Jennifer BenavidesCredit: KSAT/Youtube
“Very beautiful baby. Handsome. 1 month old,” Benavides told KSAT 12, recounting her first impression of the child. “She’s like, ‘Well, do you want him? I’m going to give him away. I’m going to give him to somebody.’”
Response and Arrest
Realizing Ibarra intended to leave the child, Benavides sought help from a nearby friend and the two went to the friend’s home with the infant. Authorities say Ibarra then left the area in an Uber. When she later returned to the vicinity, San Antonio police arrested her. Child Protective Services confirmed the baby was placed with other relatives following the arrest.
Ibarra was charged with abandoning and endangering a child with intent to return. Court records cited by the San Antonio Express-News show a judge set her bail at $7,000.
Bus stop in downtown San Antonio, where Jennifer Benavides was approached by Karla IbarraCredit: Google
Legal Context: Texas Safe Haven Law
The case has drawn attention to Texas’ Safe Haven Law (often called the Baby Moses Law), enacted in 1999. The law allows a parent to anonymously and legally leave an unharmed newborn who is 60 days old or younger at designated locations — such as fire stations, EMS stations and hospitals — without facing criminal penalties. The infant must be handed directly to an employee unless a Safe Baby box is used.
Sources and Follow-Up
Initial reporting was by KSAT 12 and Fox San Antonio; additional details were cited from the San Antonio Express-News and court records. The San Antonio Police Department and the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services did not immediately comment to People on Sept. 20.
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