MURFREESBORO, TN - The Murfreesboro Police Department has addressed and denied recent rumors circulating on social media about an abandoned baby left in a car seat at a local gas station. Murfreesboro Police Public Information Officer Larry Flowers confirmed in an email to WGNS, “This information is false.”
Concerns initially arose when a social media post claimed that a baby was left in a car seat in the middle of a gas station parking lot early in the morning. The post, allegedly made by an individual named Rockell Thomas, described discovering the car seat at 3:30 a.m. and waiting for the police while caring for the baby. The post, which has since been removed, included a passionate message to the alleged parents, calling them "evil cowards" and urging them to seek help.
Despite the removal of the original post, a screenshot of it continues to be shared across various social media platforms. The Murfreesboro Police Department has confirmed that the entire story is fictitious. P.I.O. Flowers emphasized that no such incident occurred and that the information spread online is entirely false.
In a public release, the MPD requested that the public refrain from sharing the misleading post or its screenshot. They also urged those who have already shared it to delete their posts to prevent further spread of the false information. It is always important to verify information before sharing it on social media to avoid unnecessary panic and confusion.
This incident highlights the potential dangers of misinformation on social media and the importance of relying on verified sources for accurate information. The MPD continues to monitor the situation and urges the community to report any suspicious or concerning activity directly to the authorities.
The entire post, which was poorly written, stated: “On the way home from work at 3:30am, I noticed a car seat sitting in the middle of the gas station parking lot. I was so tired until I overlooked at what I assumed to be a baby. I’m so glad I turned around, a five month old baby was left in that car seat sitting there calmly. I called the police after picking that sweet baby up and bouncing him at this time of the morning until police came. To the parent or parents, I pray that you seek help, cause only a evil coward would just leave him there all alone. And for those of who u with the rude/sarcastic comments making excuses for the parent, then you need to seek help too.”
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