ABANDONED BABY MAY BE ADOPTED OFFICIALS STILL SEEK MOTHER.

Byline: Greg Botonis Staff Writer

LANCASTER - A newborn baby abandoned in a gas station bathroom Tuesday morning is expected to be put up for adoption, a sheriff's official said Wednesday.

The baby appears healthy but will remain at Antelope Valley Hospital for observation until about Friday, then is expected to be handed over to the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services, officials said.

``The most important thing is the baby's safety and welfare and we were told she is going to be fine,'' said Lt. Don Downton of the Lancaster sheriff's station. ``Undoubtedly, though, there will be follow-up in this case.''

The baby was about two hours old when she was brought into Antelope Valley Hospital about 9:15 a.m. Tuesday by a woman who said she found the girl in a gas station bathroom. Hospital staffers took the baby to be examined and when they returned, the woman was gone.

The employees said the woman did not appear to have just given birth.

According to the ``Babysafe'' program provided throughout Los Angeles County, a mother can drop off her newborn at any fire station, emergency room or Los Angeles County hospital with no questions asked.

If the baby was abandoned at a gas station, however, the mother can face charges of abandonment, neglect and child endangerment among others. Deputies said they hope to locate the woman who dropped the baby off and possibly get additional information that will lead them to the mother.

If the woman who dropped the baby off was really the mother, she would not face charges, officials said.

Anyone with information as to the identity of the mother was asked to call the Lancaster sheriff's station at [phone].

Greg Botonis, [phone]

gregory.botonis(at)dailynews.com