CRITICAL UPDATE: Suspect Charged Following Midtown Manhattan Discovery
October 23, 2025 NEW YORK, NY — Police have taken a woman into custody following the discovery of an infant abandoned at Penn Station earlier this week, an incident that drew immediate public attention and praise for the swift response of emergency services.
Assa Diawara, 30, was apprehended in the borough of Queens early Wednesday morning. She now faces charges of abandonment of a child and endangering the welfare of a child. Court documents indicate she was expected to appear in court later the same day.
The baby girl, whose identity has not been released, was discovered shortly before 9:30 a.m. on Monday, October [Insert relevant current year, e.g., 2025], at the bustling transportation hub located at West 34th Street and 7th Avenue. An anonymous tip initiated the police response.
The Discovery on 34th Street
The infant was found wrapped in a blanket at the bottom of a staircase that provides access to the 1, 2, and 3 train subway platforms.
Surveillance footage from the area was quickly utilized by investigators, with police releasing a photograph of the mother carrying the child in the vicinity of Penn Station prior to the discovery. New York City Transit President Demetrius Crichlow publicly commented on the successful recovery of the child, dubbing the event "the Miracle on 34th Street."
Crichlow stated, "The FDNY and police department responded, they found a baby that was unattended... The baby was taken to the hospital and is in stable condition."
New York's Safe Haven Law: The Facts
The case immediately raises questions regarding New York's Safe Haven Law. This legislation is designed to offer parents a legal, anonymous avenue to surrender a newborn under specific, regulated conditions.
