Forsyth County Mother Pleads Guilty to Abandoning Newborn in Woods, a resident listed in public arrest records, was taken into custody on April 2, 2025, in Featured County, Georgia. According to the official booking report, the arrest was made by local authorities and the subject was charged with the following offense(s): unspecified charges. This incident was officially recorded and made publicly available by law enforcement agencies in the state of Georgia. The details provided reflect the arrest information at the time of booking and do not indicate guilt or conviction. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Forsyth County Mother Pleads Guilty to Abandoning Newborn in Woods
Update #1: A Georgia woman accused of leaving her newborn daughter in a plastic bag in the woods in 2019 has pleaded guilty to attempted murder and first-degree cruelty to children, officials confirmed Tuesday.
Karima Jiwani entered a negotiated guilty plea and was sentenced to 30 years, with 15 years to be served in prison and the remainder on probation, according to court records.
The case remained unsolved for nearly four years until investigators used DNA technology to identify Jiwani as the child’s mother in May 2023. The newborn, known as “Baby India,” was found alive inside a tied-up plastic bag in a wooded area by a family who heard her cries and called authorities.
Forsyth County Sheriff Ron Freeman stated that Jiwani had a history of concealed pregnancies. Investigators determined she had given birth in her car before driving around and abandoning her daughter. DNA evidence first led authorities to the baby’s father, and further testing confirmed Jiwani’s identity.
“Baby India” survived and was placed with a family. As of 2023, she was reported to be “thriving,” according to the sheriff’s office.
Discovery of Baby India
On June 6, 2019, just before a severe thunderstorm, neighbors heard what they initially believed were animal sounds coming from the woods. Two teenagers, convinced the noises were not from an animal, urged their father to investigate. Following the cries, he discovered a newborn baby girl tied inside a plastic bag on the ground.
Body camera footage showed deputies carefully opening the bag to find the infant with her umbilical cord still attached. They wrapped her in a jacket and worked quickly to comfort her.
Investigators later determined that Jiwani gave birth in her car and drove around for an extended period before abandoning the baby in the woods. The neighbor who found her described the discovery as “an act of God,” as their home was on a remote street with no nearby neighbors.
For nearly four years, police had no leads on who had abandoned the infant.
Breakthrough in the Case
In July 2022, investigators identified the child’s father using DNA evidence. Authorities determined he had no knowledge of the pregnancy or the abandonment. This breakthrough led them to Jiwani, who was arrested on May 18, 2023.
Sheriff Freeman stated that Jiwani, 40, had a history of hidden pregnancies and unreported births but had never committed a criminal act of this nature before. Her other children were removed from her care.
Digital evidence revealed that Jiwani went to great lengths to conceal her pregnancy. Freeman emphasized, “This investigation has taken thousands of hours, and we never stopped in those four years.”
He added, “Jiwani made no effort to leave this child, not only under Safe Haven Law but in any place where she could be found.” Authorities believe she deliberately left the baby to die.
Georgia’s Safe Haven Law
According to Georgia’s Department of Human Services, the Safe Haven Law (Safe Place for Newborns Act) allows a mother to legally surrender her baby—up to 30 days old—at a hospital, police station, or fire station without facing criminal charges.
A New Future for Baby India
Sheriff Freeman confirmed that Baby India is now “prosperous, happy, and healthy.” He praised the community’s overwhelming support, stating, “When those who were supposed to do their best did their worst to her, Forsyth County stepped up in a big way.”
Jiwani was originally charged with multiple offenses, including reckless abandonment, first-degree cruelty to children, aggravated assault, and attempted murder. With her guilty plea, she will now serve her sentence as part of a negotiated agreement.
Disclaimer: All data provided here is taken from public arrest records. This publication does not imply guilt or final conviction.
More Arrests in Featured on April 2, 2025
No other arrests found on this date in Featured.
