On June 6, a shocking and heartbreaking discovery was made in a wooded area of Forsyth County, Georgia. A man heard strange crying near his home and, at first, his family wondered if it could be an animal. But, when he called the authorities to come investigate, they discovered something even worse than an injured animal. Instead, they found a newborn baby girl, abandoned and crying inside a plastic bag that had been tied up.
Body cam footage from the police officers’ harrowing discovery went viral after it was posted online by the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office. You can watch it for yourself here, on Facebook, but beware that this footage could be very upsetting.
As painful as the video is, it helped spread this terrible story across the world. As a result, it now has a potentially happy ending as more than 1,000 people have already come forward asking to adopt this little girl, according to People magazine. The girl, who’s been named India, has clearly touched the hearts of many people.
“It’s amazing the number of people who are looking to take on a new life into their families,” Ron Freeman, Forsyth County sheriff, told People.
In the video, you can see the officers gently examining India, and her responding by making eye contact and even grasping an officer’s finger. We don’t yet know any information about baby India’s parents or who may have left her there but the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office has been posting updates to its Facebook page.
Under the Safe Haven Law (also known as “Baby Moses laws”), parents can leave their newborn infants at designated safe places like fire stations and hospitals without fear of legal repercussions. Some states have regulations in place that allow parents to reclaim an infant within a certain time frame if they realize they have made a mistake.
To adopt children in need in your own community, visit AdoptUSKids or reach out to foster care organizations in your community. Learn more here, or donate to maternal health care programs here.
This story originally appeared on Simplemost. Checkout Simplemost for other great tips and ideas to make the most out of life.
