LAPD Searching for Parents of Abandoned 3–Year-Old NR09492cj

UpdateA Bakersfield woman recognized her grandson in the widely covered story of an abandoned toddler in South Los Angeles.  The abandoned boy has now been positively identified as 3-year-old Xavier Nelson.  Detectives continue to investigate the circumstance which led to Xavier’s parent or caregiver leaving him on a bus bench in the early morning hours of October 9, 2009.  Xavier remains in the care of the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services.

Los Angeles: Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) detectives are asking for the public’s help in identifying the parent or guardian of an abandoned 3-year-old boy who was brought in to the LAPD 77th Area Station by a citizen after being left on a bus stop for one hour.  

October 9th 2009, at 12:40 a.m., a 3-year-old old boy was found at a public bus stop at the corner of Florence and Broadway Avenues.  A local resident told LAPD 77th Area officers that he observed the child sleeping on a bus bench next to an adult woman.  When the bus arrived, the woman got onto the bus and left the child behind. The citizen yelled to the woman to tell her that she forgot about the child but she waived him off.  The citizen stayed with the child for about one hour hoping the female would return, but no one came back to the bus stop to claim him.  The citizen went to the LAPD 77th Area Police Station where he provided details of the incident to officers.  The child was then taken into police custody and released to the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services.

The woman who entered the bus is described as a 20- to 25-year-old female Hispanic; she stands about 5 feet 4 inches, and weighs about 110 pounds.  She was wearing a black and red checkered poncho.  
 
The name of the child is unknown but his first name may be Xavier.  He is described as a 3-year-old male Hispanic.  He weighs about 30 pounds and has a "Mohawk" hairstyle with black hair and brown eyes.   

At this time no parent or guardian has come forward to claim the toddler.
   
A photo of the child is available from the LAPD Media Relations Section at 213-485-3586
 
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the LAPD 77th Area Major Assault Crimes Unit Detective Javier Lozano at 213-485-6991 or 213-485-4156.  After-hours or on weekends, calls may be directed to a 24-hour, toll free number at 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (527-3247).  Callers may also text "crimes" with a cell phone or log on to www.lapdonline.org and click on web tips.  When using a cell phone, all messages should begin with "LAPD."  Tipsters may remain anonymous.