by Information on New Mexico Safe Haven Baby Box cases comes from news reports, SHBB Inc reports on social media and other public record sources. Invaribily these reports claim the babies were healthly and well-cared for; in no danger of dangerous discard or death
1. Hobbs Fire Station #1
Date: September 23, 2023
Baby Information: .Boy
Details: Placed in box around midday and taken to Covenant Health Hobbs Hospital. Described as healthy and well-cared for. No details.
Selected Sources:
- Newborn boy placed in Baby Box in Hobbs, KOAT-TV, September 23,l2023
- Infant saved in Safe Haven baby box, YourBasin.com, September 23, 2023
- “Tremendous victory” Baby boy saved in Hobbs through Safe Haven Baby Box, KCBD-TV, September 25, 2023
2. Belen Fire Station
Date: February 6, 2024
Baby Information: Boy. Adoptive name: Mike Grazen Martinez
Details: Left at 1:30 PM. No details were released on baby at time of abandonment, other than being described as “healthy.” On March 10, 2025, his adoption was finalized, and details of the case were publicized in print and broadcast media by his adoptive parents, Belen Fire Department Lt. Chris Martinez and his wife Janae. Lt, Martinez, who had just arrived at the fire station after a run says the baby was blue and did not “look good.” Mikel weighed only 5 pounds and was admitted to the local neonatal ICU, suffering from pneumonia and hypothermia, and remained hospitalized for a month. The couple had become certified foster parents only one week earlier and no information on how this questionable adoption was arranged with CYFD.
Selected Sources:
- Baby Box used for first time in Belen, Valencia County News Bulletin, February 7, 2024
- 1st Baby Box Surrender of the Year in Belen, NM and 3rd in the Country for 2024, Belen City Government, January 7, 2024
- Officials provide update on baby surrendered at Belen fire station, KOB-TV, February 7, 2024
- Belen firefighter adopts boy in Baby Box, Belen News-Bulletin, March 13,2025
- A firefighter who longed to be a dad found a newborn abandoned at his firehouse, Today Show, March 14, 2025
3. Hobbs Fire Station #1
Date: May 31, 2024 (reported by media)
Baby Information: .Boy
Details: Taken to Covenant Health Hobbs Hospital. Described as healthy and well-cared for. No details. SHBB says that the mother is receiving SHBB “services. (Tumbler Thursday, June 6, 2024. Claims about 50% of SHBB mothers uses them)
Selected Sources:
- Healthy baby boy left inside Safe Haven Baby Box was well cared for officials say, KCBD, May 31, 2024
4 Hobbs Fire Station #1
Date: April 2, 2025
Baby Information: unknown (Every news story about this case is a regurgitation of the SHBB Inc press release and has no details about drop-off)
Details: unknown
Selected Sources:
- 3rd infant surrendered in baby box in Hobbs in under 2 years, KCBD-TV, April 7, 2025
- Third infant surrendered at Safe Hven Box in Hobbs, New Mexico, KWES-TV, April 9, 2025
Updated April 11, 2025
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