Community in Auburn donates stone marker for unnamed baby | News

AUBURN, CA - Through the generosity of several community members, a stone marker was placed at New Auburn Cemetery for a newborn baby. 

That baby was found dead in the trash along Newcastle Road last June. There's now a new headstone for that baby "John Doe."

About a dozen people came out Tuesday afternoon for a special ceremony to remember the child. Community members dropped off flowers, and stuffed teddy bears.

The baby boy was actually buried in November at the New Auburn Cemetery with money from the county's indigent burial fund. But there was no money for a stone maker. After people learned about it they began calling to offer donations.

"We'd thought it would be a good idea to donate memorial to this baby and the community came together and made it happen." said Paul Ruhkala of Ruhkala Granite and Marble.

"To me, this was a real baby and he had a soul, he had a heart. And it just touched me," said Norma Harris.

On the baby's headstone is the engraving, "A Precious Gift."

"Because life is a gift, people came out to recognize that and honor the fact that this little guy lived for awhile without a name. But, a lot of people have a name in their own heart as to who he means to them," said Senior Chaplain John Akers with the Law Enforcement Chaplaincy.

Placer County Sheriff's deputies say the infant's body was found in a trash bag dumped along Green Hills Court in Newcastle last June. The county coroner determined the baby had been born at near term but was not premature.

Investigators still haven't been able to find or identify the mother of the baby. Anyone with information should call the sheriff's department.

By Suzanne Phan, sphan@news10.net

Twitter: @suzannephan

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