Second Newborn Safely Surrendered to Tennessee Safe Haven Baby Box

The infant was left at a Knoxville fire station, the second such surrender at this location since the box was installed in 2023.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A second newborn baby has been safely surrendered to a Safe Haven Baby Box location in Knoxville, Tennessee. The infant was left at Knoxville Fire Department Station 17 on Friday and is now in the care of Dolly Parton Children's Hospital after a brief evaluation. This is the second time a baby has been surrendered at this location since the box was installed in 2023.

Why it matters

Safe Haven Baby Boxes are designed to provide a safe, legal, and anonymous option for parents to surrender their newborns, deterring dangerous abandonments. This latest surrender in Knoxville demonstrates the boxes are serving their intended purpose of saving lives in the community.

The details

The newborn surrendered on Friday was quickly evaluated by first responders and then transported to Dolly Parton Children's Hospital for a full checkup. The baby is reported to be in excellent health. Under Tennessee's Safe Haven law, unharmed newborns up to 45 days old can be surrendered to baby boxes, as well as directly to hospitals, fire stations, EMS providers, and police stations.

  • The baby was surrendered to the Knoxville Fire Department Station 17 on Friday, March 7, 2026.
  • The first infant surrender at this location occurred in May 2023.

The players

Indya Kincannon

The mayor of Knoxville, who stated that if the Safe Haven Baby Box saved just one life, it would be worth it.

Knoxville Fire Department

The fire department that houses the Safe Haven Baby Box where the newborn was surrendered.

Dolly Parton Children's Hospital

The hospital where the surrendered newborn was taken for a full medical evaluation.

Safe Haven Baby Boxes

The organization that has installed over 400 Safe Haven Baby Boxes nationwide, including the one in Knoxville.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“At the time of installation, we said if just one life was saved from this box—it would be worth it. This is the second baby surrendered to the KFD Safe Haven Baby Box, and it's a relief to know this resource is in our city.”

— Indya Kincannon, Mayor (WATE)

What’s next

The surrendered newborn will remain in the care of Dolly Parton Children's Hospital as the state works to place the baby with an adoptive family.

The takeaway

The successful surrender of a second newborn to the Safe Haven Baby Box in Knoxville demonstrates the importance of these anonymous, safe surrender options in deterring dangerous abandonments and saving lives in the community.