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Mom Charged With Leaving Baby Alone In Building

CHICAGO (STMW) -- TThe mother of a baby found alone in a South Side apartment building Friday night has been charged with child abandonment.

Johnetta Smith, 24, of the 5800 block of South Wolcott Avenue, was charged with one felony count of child abandonment after leaving her 1-year-old daughter in a vestibule of an apartment building Friday night, according to a release from Chicago Police.

Bond for Smith was set at $40,000 in court Wednesday, according to the Cook County State's Attorney's office.

The child was found about 11:40 p.m. on March 21 in an Auburn Gresham building in the 8200 block of South Justine Street, the release said.

The baby was taken in good condition to Little Company of Mary Hospital and Health Care Center in Evergreen Park and was later released into the custody of the state's Department of Children and Family Services, police said at the time.

Detectives had been looking for the mother since Saturday afternoon, after the girl was identified, police said at the time. Smith turned herself in to police Monday.

She is next scheduled to appear in court March 31.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2014. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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