Jennifer Benavides says the stranger who came up to her at the bus stop near Pecan and Navarro streets initially asked to use her phone, then made her an unusual offer.—
Standing on a downtown street Sunday night, Jennifer Benavides was seconds away from boarding her #77 bus when a woman she didn’t know approached her.
Benavides says the stranger who came up to her at the bus stop near Pecan and Navarro streets initially asked to use her phone, then made her an unusual offer.
“Very beautiful baby. Handsome. One month old,” she said. “(The woman was), like, ‘Well, do you want him? I’m going to give him away. I’m going to give him to somebody.”
KSAT 12 News reported on the incident earlier this week and the arrest of the infant’s mother, Karla Ibarra, 18.
Benavides reached out after the story aired and identified herself as the woman on the receiving end of the baby.
She said she was stunned by Ibarra’s statements and tried to talk her out of her plans.
Benavides said she then convinced Ibarra to go with her to the home of a friend where she fed and changed the baby’s diaper. They also called San Antonio police.
Benavides said Ibarra had called for a ride from an Uber and left the baby behind with her at her friend’s home.
At some point later, while officers were present, Ibarra returned to the scene where she was arrested on a child abandonment charge.
“I can’t take any credit for that. God just put me at the right place and the right time,” Benavides said. “It’s upsetting to know that even with all the resources that we have out there that someone would do this.”
For a short time, Benavides was worried that she also might end up in trouble with the law.
Benavides said when she saw Ibarra being detained, she worried she might give officers a different version of the story, possibly implicating her.
After Ibarra’s arrest, Child Protective Services confirmed that the baby had been placed with other relatives.
Standing on a downtown street Sunday night, Jennifer Benavides was seconds away from boarding her #77 bus when a woman she didn’t know approached her.
Benavides says the stranger who came up to her at the bus stop near Pecan and Navarro streets initially asked to use her phone, then made her an unusual offer.
“Very beautiful baby. Handsome. One month old,” she said. “(The woman was), like, ‘Well, do you want him? I’m going to give him away. I’m going to give him to somebody.”
KSAT 12 News reported on the incident earlier this week and the arrest of the infant’s mother, Karla Ibarra, 18.
Benavides reached out after the story aired and identified herself as the woman on the receiving end of the baby.
She said she was stunned by Ibarra’s statements and tried to talk her out of her plans.
Benavides said she then convinced Ibarra to go with her to the home of a friend where she fed and changed the baby’s diaper. They also called San Antonio police.
Benavides said Ibarra had called for a ride from an Uber and left the baby behind with her at her friend’s home.
At some point later, while officers were present, Ibarra returned to the scene where she was arrested on a child abandonment charge.
“I can’t take any credit for that. God just put me at the right place and the right time,” Benavides said. “It’s upsetting to know that even with all the resources that we have out there that someone would do this.”
For a short time, Benavides was worried that she also might end up in trouble with the law.
Benavides said when she saw Ibarra being detained, she worried she might give officers a different version of the story, possibly implicating her.
After Ibarra’s arrest, Child Protective Services confirmed that the baby had been placed with other relatives.
