Police say Sidney Woytasczyk, 21, panicked after giving birth in her kitchen and left baby in a bush outside her Texas flat
A YOUNG mum accused of dumping her newborn baby in a bush claims she didn't know she was pregnant — and wanted rid of it because her boyfriend might be upset.
Sidney Woytasczyk, 21, faces up to 20 years in prison after being charged with child abandonment.
Shocking footage emerged last week showing the baby girl — with a ripped umbilical chord still attached — covered in ants next to a pavement.
She was found by a pedestrian outside a block of flats in Houston, Texas at 5am on Thursday.
Announcing the charge, assistant Chief Armando Tello of Harris County Sheriff's Office said: "A felony charge of abandoning a child and causing serious bodily injury has been filed against Sidney Woytasczyk, aged 21, which carries a maximum possible punishment of 20 years in prison."
He added: "This is a case that has really touched the hearts of everyone here at the Sheriff's Office."
The baby girl's father, Deandre Skillern, came forward to say the 6lbs 13oz tot was his after police followed a trail of blood from the baby to the nearby apartment he shared with Woytasczyk.
Appearing at a custody hearing on Friday, Skillern insisted he was not aware that his girlfriend was pregnant, but agreed to take a DNA test to prove the girl is his.
Lead Investigator Kimberly Thomas said: "[Woytasczyk] was scared and she did not know she was pregnant.
"The father has not been charged and we do not expect more charges.
"It's more than likely the baby would have died if no-one had found her in time."
The baby girl has received treatment for a bacterial infection and a rapid heart rate, and is now in good condition at Texas Children's Hospital.
Neighbour Albert Peterson, who found the girl, said he first thought her cries were from a cat.
He told local : "She was there on the ground in the flower bed with ants.
"She was covered from head to toe and all in her ears... She had a lot of strength too. She was fighting."
Harris County Deputy Thomas Gilliland said: "Had this neighbour not been here, we'd be looking at a homicide. It's a miracle the child was found."
Skillern and Woytasczyk's mother Tina — who has also insisted she didn't realise her daughter was preganant — are applying to gain custody of the baby.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368 . We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.
