Full Breakdown
Texas Teen Mother Charged After Attempting to Abandon Infant at San Antonio Bus Stop
By Drooid · · How we work
Incident Overview
On a Sunday night in downtown San Antonio, 18-year-old Karla Ibarra approached a stranger, Jennifer Benavides, at a bus stop and asked to use her phone. Benavides said Ibarra then handed her the infant’s birth certificate, Medicaid card and Social Security card, offering the 1-month-old boy to a “stranger.” Benavides and a nearby friend took the baby inside, fed him and changed his diaper before calling police. Ibarra left the scene in an Uber, returned later, and was arrested by the San Antonio Police Department. The child was placed with relatives by Child Protective Services.
Legal Context
Ibarra was charged by the Bexar County Court with abandoning and endangering a child with intent to return. Her bail was set at $7,000. Texas’ “Baby Moses” Safe-Haven Law permits parents to surrender unharmed newborns (60 days or younger) anonymously at designated locations such as fire stations or hospitals without criminal penalty. The law requires the child be handed directly to an employee at one of those sites; it does not cover informal hand-offs to private individuals.
Official Statements & Responses
The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the charges and bail amount. Child Protective Services verified that the infant was subsequently placed with other family members.
Verbatim Quotes
- “She’s like, ‘Well, do you want him? I’m going to give him away. I’m going to give him to somebody,’” — Jennifer Benavides
- “It’s upsetting to know that even with all the resources that we have out there that someone would do this,” — Jennifer Benavides
- “Very beautiful baby. Handsome. 1 month old,” — Jennifer Benavides
- “It’s upsetting to know that, with even all the resources that we have out there, that somebody would just do this,” — Jennifer Benavides