Arrest Made in 2016 Abandoned Baby Case

On 03/08/16 Mesa Police responded to a call near 9th Place and Alma School reference an abandoned baby. The baby was found in a car seat carrier and was thought to be 2-3 hours old. She was transported to a hospital where doctors reported she was diagnosed with hypoglycemia and hypothermia. The baby has since recovered and is doing well. Extensive canvassing of the area at the time yielded no investigative leads. Blood was recovered from the car seat carrier and tested for DNA. The investigation went cold until a Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) hit was reported. The CODIS hit identified the defendant as 24 year old Maricela Perez.

Maricela had an active warrant from Pima County and Officers were able to locate her at an address in Mesa where she was taken into custody for the warrant. In a post arrest interview, Maricela admitted to giving birth to the baby girl in her bathtub on 3/08/2016. She said she placed the baby in a car seat carrier and drove her towards the 9th Place area heading towards the fire station. She said she knew the fire station offers a Safe Baby Haven but she was concerned about being asked questions about the new baby and the fact the baby might have Meth in her system. She said she left the baby in front of a house with it lights off so no one would see her and then returned to her apartment. Maricela said she knew what she did was wrong and has been booked and charged with one count of ARS 13-3623A1 Child Abuse, and one count of ARS 13-1201A Endangerment.