A 16-year-old Detroit girl who initially claimed she discovered a newborn abandoned on her family’s porch now says she actually delivered the baby alone in her bathroom on Thanksgiving.
She described her birth experience as terrifying, overwhelming, and nothing she ever expected to face at her age.
The teen, identified by family as Peyton Peoples, told Fox 2 Detroit she didn’t know she was pregnant and went into labor suddenly.
“I was laying in bed and my water broke, so I went into the bathroom and had Paxton,” she said.
Peyton told reporters she delivered the baby after just a few pushes and turned to TikTok videos for emergency guidance, including instructions on how to tie and cut an umbilical cord.
Panicked and unsure what to do next, she told relatives a stranger had left the infant outside the home. Family members said they rushed to comfort who they believed was an anonymous mother — only later realizing that the child was Peyton’s.
“We just kept praising the momma, saying good things about her, thanking her for bringing the baby here,” said her grandmother Kimberly Peoples-Adams. “Not knowing it was our baby all along.”
Both Peyton and her newborn son, whom family has named Paxton, were taken to the hospital and are expected to be OK.
A Scared Teen, A Close Family, and a Moment of Crisis
Peyton’s grandmother said fear drove her granddaughter’s actions.
“She was afraid. Very afraid. Even though we’re a very close family,” Peoples-Adams said. “You can’t imagine what goes through a teenager’s mind. She felt judged. She’s still 16 — she’s still learning how to deal with the world.”
Detroit police said their Child Abuse Investigation Unit is handling the case while Children’s Protective Services conducts a review. No criminal charges have been announced. Investigators initially treated the porch story as suspicious and quickly worked to verify what actually happened.
Despite the shock and confusion surrounding the ordeal, support for the family has been swift. A community GoFundMe created to help Peyton and baby Paxton has raised $35,921 of its $50,000 goal as of Dec. 7, 2025.
Neighbors and strangers have left messages offering baby supplies, childcare support, and prayers for the teen’s emotional recovery.
Legal Context: Michigan’s Safe Delivery Law
The case has renewed attention on Michigan’s Safe Delivery Law, which allows parents to safely surrender a newborn within 72 hours at a hospital, police station, fire station, or by calling 911 — without fear of prosecution. Advocates say many teens are unaware the option exists, especially in moments of panic.
For Peyton, the ordeal has been a crash course in adulthood — one she didn’t see coming and wasn’t prepared for. Her family says they are standing by her as she adjusts to the reality of motherhood and the emotional weight of what happened.
“This was a child who felt she had no options,” her grandmother said. “Now we’re just focusing on love, healing, and making sure Paxton has everything he needs.”
