# Washington State abandoned toddler **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 23, 2005, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/washington-state-abandoned-toddler/309511 "2005-06-23T10:35:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2005, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/washington-state-abandoned-toddler/309511/1 "2005-06-23T10:35:20Z")
I can’t find a live link right now, but I just heard a story about a toddler abandoned in the stairwell of a Baptist church in Washington state. The line that got me went something like: “The child was well-fed, and well-dressed. Someone obviously stayed with him until he fell asleep, and then simply walked away.” And that brought tears to my eyes. I _have_ a toddler. They trust you. When you lay down next to them so they’ll go to sleep… they hold on to you and need you to be there. What a crying shame this story is. ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2005, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/washington-state-abandoned-toddler/309511/2 "2005-06-23T11:05:23Z")
The story is available [here](http://www.kgw.com/news-local/stories/kgw_062205_news_abandoned_boy.35e657ff.html) ---
**Author:** ![MrFantsyPants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ba0ec/32.png) [@MrFantsyPants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrFantsyPants)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2005, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/washington-state-abandoned-toddler/309511/3 "2005-06-23T11:15:36Z")
Sure, it is a sad breach of trust, but from what you’ve said, it sounds like someone who loves the kid wanted to abandon him in a place he’d get taken care of, in the nicest way that they could think of. Fucked up? Yes. But far worse things happen everyday to kids at the hands of their caregivers. I’m sure you don’t need me to make a list. I see this as just a case of someone anonymously putting a kid up for adoption. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2005, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/washington-state-abandoned-toddler/309511/4 "2005-06-23T11:28:32Z")
☹ Poor baby. I have small kids and this is the last thing I would ever do, just past killing myself. But the father is on the lam, and that’s no place for a child, either. Most people don’t remember when they were 2 years old, so if he goes to a loving home, he’ll be o.k. ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2005, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/washington-state-abandoned-toddler/309511/5 "2005-06-23T13:07:18Z")
They know who he is now, they just don’t know where his parents are. More info [here.](http://www.komo4.com/stories/37552.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2005, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/washington-state-abandoned-toddler/309511/6 "2005-06-23T14:07:05Z")
> [@MrFantsyPants](#): > > Sure, it is a sad breach of trust, but from what you’ve said, it sounds like someone who loves the kid wanted to abandon him in a place he’d get taken care of, in the nicest way that they could think of. Fucked up? Yes. But far worse things happen everyday to kids at the hands of their caregivers. I’m sure you don’t need me to make a list. > > I see this as just a case of someone anonymously putting a kid up for adoption. No, I know. I’m not even going to rail at the parents; undoubtedly they have things going on that made them believe this was the step to take. And the child was left with a group of people, God bless 'em, that are happy to step in and help. I just cried at the sadness of the whole situation. That’s all. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2005, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/washington-state-abandoned-toddler/309511/7 "2005-06-23T14:19:01Z")
They’ve just arrested the father. ---
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2005, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/washington-state-abandoned-toddler/309511/8 "2005-06-23T23:48:26Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > They’ve just arrested the father. [A little more detail](http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/updates/story/4968264p-4541121c.html) (as of 06:54 PDT). Seems the father has, shall we say, a less-than-sterling past in matters domestic.