Mother Who Abandoned Baby in Gunungkidul Arrested; Identified as Local Resident
Police have finally apprehended the perpetrator responsible for abandoning a baby in Kemejing I, Semin, Gunungkidul. The perpetrator is a married woman whose house is located only dozens of metres from the abandonment site.
Semin Police Chief, AKP Aris Sugiyanto, stated that following the discovery of the infant on 3 August 2026, police immediately launched an investigation. During the crime scene investigation, police found clues in the form of bloodstains on a rock behind the house of the suspect, identified by the initials JM (34), a resident of Kemejing I.
“Furthermore, bloodstains were also found behind the kitchen door of JM’s house,” he told reporters at the Gunungkidul Police Station on Tuesday (1/9/2026).
Based on these findings, police conducted further investigations by questioning witnesses. It was revealed that JM, who is married, was pregnant with her third child but had never sought medical attention at a healthcare facility.
“Ultimately, the police found strong evidence suggesting that the perpetrator of the baby abandonment was JM, and after being questioned, JM confessed,” he said.
Police detained JM at her home on Thursday (27/8/2026), seizing the clothing she was wearing at the time of the abandonment as evidence. JM was officially named a suspect on Friday (28/8/2026).
“It turns out JM’s house is only about 50 metres away from the location where the baby was found,” he added.
Head of Criminal Investigation at Semin Police, Aiptu Iriyately, continued that from the interrogation, JM revealed that on Monday (3/8/2026) at 01:30 AM, she experienced abdominal pain. At the same time, her husband and child were sleeping in their room.
“JM then went to an empty room in her house and gave birth to a baby boy without medical assistance,” he said.
On the other hand, JM intentionally did not inform her husband of the incident because he is suffering from a brain injury due to an accident. JM then wrapped the baby boy and the placenta in her blue jacket and placed them into a brown baby bag.
“The baby, placed inside the bag, was then carried to the backyard of Sutinem’s house, which is approximately 50 metres from the suspect’s house,” he said.
For her actions, JM is charged with child neglect as stipulated under Article 77 letter B juncto Article 76 letter B of Law Number 17 of 2016, or Article 430 juncto Article 429 paragraph (1) of Law Number 1 of 2023 regarding the Criminal Code. The maximum penalty is five years in prison.
It was previously reported that residents of Kemejing I, Semin, Gunungkidul, were shocked by the discovery of a baby boy behind a resident’s house. The infant has since received further medical attention at the Semin I Community Health Centre (Puskesmas).
Semin Police Chief, AKP Wasdiyanto, stated that the incident began when Sutinem (44), a local resident, was preparing to cook and sweep her kitchen at 05:30 AM. Upon arriving in the kitchen, Sutinem heard a baby crying.
“Upon hearing the crying, the witness immediately informed the neighbourhood head (RT),” he said when contacted by reporters on Monday (3/8/2026).
Subsequently, the neighbourhood head and Sutinem searched for the source of the crying. The sound grew louder as they reached the bushes behind her house.
“There was a brown bag in the bushes. When the bag was opened, it contained a baby wrapped in a blue jacket,” he said.
The baby boy was reported to be in healthy condition.