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Mother Arrested for Abandoning Newborn at Penn Station

10/22/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Assa Diawara, 30, was arrested for abandoning her newborn daughter at Penn Station in Manhattan on Monday.
Surveillance footage shows Diawara entering Penn Station with the infant and later leaving alone.
Police located the baby after a 911 call and transported her to Bellevue Hospital, where she remains stable.
Diawara is awaiting arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court on charges of child abandonment and endangerment.

History

Historical Context

The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA), originally enacted in 1974 and significantly amended in 1988, aimed to enhance child welfare services in the U.S. Following its enactment, federal funding increased child welfare services by 25%. Assa Diawara's recent arrest for abandoning her newborn at Penn Station underscores ongoing challenges in protecting vulnerable children and highlights the need for continued advocacy and resources.

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Story summary

Assa Diawara, 30, was arrested for abandoning her newborn daughter at Penn Station in Manhattan on Monday.
Surveillance footage shows Diawara entering Penn Station with the infant and later leaving alone.
Police located the baby after a 911 call and transported her to Bellevue Hospital, where she remains stable.
Diawara is awaiting arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court on charges of child abandonment and endangerment.

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