LODI, CA – Employees of a local business are grappling with trauma after discovering the body of a newborn in a parking lot on Thursday. The infant was found near the intersection of Tokay and Sacramento streets, prompting a police investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death.
David Franco, a worker at Commissary Azteca, had taken his lunch break near the lot when he noticed the baby lying on the concrete.
Franco, who has recently relocated from Mexico and is a father of three, sought help from a coworker, Silvia Gonzalez, after the distressing sight. Gonzalez called 911 upon seeing the infant in a pool of blood with the placenta still attached.
First responders arrived at the disturbing scene and confirmed the baby’s death, spurring a deeper investigation by Lodi police. Gonzalez remarked that she had frequently seen a visibly pregnant homeless woman in the area but had not seen her recently.
Both Franco and Gonzalez urge the community to seek alternative solutions rather than abandoning children. The pair are appealing to the mother and anyone with information to come forward, seeking justice for the infant. “He was a boy,” said Gonzalez. “And more than anything to seek justice for the angel who wasn’t at fault for any of this.”
Local organizations like Lodi House have offered support, highlighting their free services for single mothers, including therapy and affordable housing. They hope to prevent future tragedies by providing resources for mothers in need.