Search Called Off for Kids Allegedly Thrown Off Bridge

Authorities called off a search and rescue mission Tuesday afternoon after Delaware River Port Authority officials found no evidence to validate a woman's claim that she threw her three children off the Ben Franklin Bridge.

"We have no evidence of any activity of that type on our bridge during the hours in question," said authority spokesman Ed Kasuba, who noted the bridge is under constant surveillance.

The search began Tuesday morning after a woman phoned St. Joseph's Hospital in Philadelphia at about 4 a.m.

The woman told a nurse that she had thrown her newborn baby into the Delaware. A second call was also made to a local drug rehab center inside the hospital telling them she had thrown a baby, and two other children -- ages two and four -- into the river.

The hospital and drug rehab center both called 911.

Boats from the U.S. Coast Guard, Philadelphia Police, Pennsylvania State Police and New Jersey State Police all searched the river for several hours looking for the alleged missing children. A Coast Guard chopper also flew in from Atlantic City, N.J. to help.

But officials came up with nothing. DRPA employees also searched along and around the bridge and found no evidence anyone was there.

The Ben Franklin Bridge has two pedestrian walkways that are open between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. daily. Gates lock the walkways during overnight hours. Surveillance cameras from both sides of the river and bridge showed no signs of a woman or anything being thrown off the bridge early Tuesday, officials say.

In the calls, the woman identified herself as Shelly, Michelle Perez and Familia Perez. The woman also provided the hospital staffers with some personal information, officials say. Investigators have since said the information she provided was untrue.

The Coast Guard is asking anyone with information or who may know the woman to contact them at 215-271-4940.