HOUSTON – A sketch artist has created images of what the parents of an abandoned newborn may look like.
The baby, who nurses have named Chloe was found inside a plastic bag outside the Stonegate Villas Apartments on Grant Road near Jones Road about 7 p.m. on Feb. 19.
The baby was taken to Texas Children's Hospital for care. Doctors said she may have been born prematurely -- she only weighed 4 pounds when she was found. She also had about 3 inches of her umbilical cord attached.
On Monday, Chloe was released from the hospital and placed with a foster family.
Artist Lois Gibson, who has created thousands of sketches of crime suspects and victims, drew the images of what the parents may look like solely based on Chloe's appearance. She did not have any witness descriptions to use.
"I saw her face and I was imagining her as an adult female," said forensic artist Lois Gibson. She told Local 2, "It's easy for me to do that. Then it dawned on me, why don't I draw what she looks like as an adult."
Gibson said it took about an hour and a half to sketch both the mother and the father.
She drew the father first, then added the female features to the image. She hoped that someone would see the sketches, see some similarity, report the parents and hope that Chloe would be adopted by a family that will love her.
Gibson said, "I've done one year and two year old babies and made them look 31 and 32 and got them returned to their long lost sister. And they looked like the babies that I guessed these babies would look like.
Child Protective Services officials said they don't know why Chloe was abandoned the way she was. Texas law allows anyone to drop off a newborn at a hospital or fire station with no questions asked and no legal ramifications.
"The law allows you to leave an infant under 60 days old at a fire station, EMS, a hospital -- all you have to do is hand the baby over," said Gwen Carter with Child Protective Services.
Deputies are searching for the parents, who may face child endangerment charges.
CPS officials said they want to talk to the parents so they can help Chloe have the best life possible.
"Our role is so this baby can be placed with relatives, if some are found, or adopted by someone, and so the person who is adopting this baby can have more genetic background on the this baby to be able to raise her," CPS spokeswoman Estella Olguin said.
After photographs and video of Chloe were released, KPRC Local 2 received dozens of inquiries from people, many outside of Texas, who wanted to adopt Chloe. CPS attorneys said they plan to ask a judge to legally sever parental custody so Chloe may be put up for adoption immediately.
There are many steps to adoption and prospective parents must fulfill many requirements in order to become eligible to adopt a child. Basic requirements include:
- be at least 21 years of age, financially stable, and responsible mature adults
- complete an application (staff will assist you, if you prefer)
- share information regarding their background and lifestyle
- provide relative and non-relative references
- show proof of marriage and/or divorce (if applicable)
- agree to a home study which includes visits with all household members
- allow staff to complete a criminal history background check and an abuse/neglect check on all adults in the household
- attend free training to learn about issues of abused and neglected children
The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services has an information packet that explains the process to adopt or foster a child. The state's website also provides in-depth information about how to adopt a child or become a foster parent.
Anyone with information about Chloe's parents and/or the person who abandoned the baby is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.
Women who are in crisis and have thoughts of abandoning their baby are urged to call 1-877-904-SAVE.