Left Behind at Wienerberg: Crisis Foster Mother Takes in Baby

The nine-month-old boy was still in a hospital on Monday, where he had been examined and cared for since then. The child is ready for discharge and will be handed over to a suitable caregiver on Tuesday, said Ingrid Pöschmann from the city's Child and Youth Welfare (MA 11) upon APA request.

Nothing unusual was found on the baby in the hospital, the boy is in good physical condition, explained Pöschmann. Now the priority is to provide him with the necessary safety and security. Subsequently, "it will be clarified," meaning the MA 11 will conduct discussions with the parents and the environment. Not least, it will be about "how such a situation could have occurred," said Pöschmann. Only then can a decision be made about the child's further stay.

Passersby observed a woman by a pond in the Neilreichgasse area on Thursday evening, who reportedly handled the child very roughly. At one point, she even fell with the baby in her arms. When approached by eyewitnesses, the woman initially walked away with the boy but left the stroller behind. Shortly after, the man came with the baby in his arms, placed him in the stroller, and announced he was going to look for his wife. Then he also disappeared, leaving the boy behind. On Saturday evening, the police tracked down the couple.

Baby left at Wienerberg: Mother questioned

The mother has since been questioned. She claims to have consumed little alcohol before the incident, about one beer and a small amount of spirits. She confirmed that she went into the pond with her boy and fell, police spokeswoman Julia Schick told the APA. The 30-year-old Ukrainian "could remember everything." Why the child was ultimately left behind remained a mystery for the time being. The woman told investigators she left because she was afraid the police would take the baby away from her. Her partner, a 48-year-old Italian, could not yet be questioned for health reasons, as of Monday morning.

Both parents were reported at large on suspicion of torturing or neglecting minors, said Schick. Previously, the authorities had no contact with the family, nor did the MA 11. Reportedly, the woman has two other children who are not in her care and are not in Austria.

Important Civil Courage

MA 11 spokeswoman Pöschmann again praised the civil courage of the eyewitnesses, whose attention and actions likely saved the little boy from worse. "Please report if you notice that children are not doing well," she appealed to the public.

(APA/Red)

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