In December 2000, police lieutenant Gene Eyster received a late night phone call about a baby found abandoned in a cardboard box in South Bend, Indiana. The newborn, later named Baby Jesus by Eyster, was discovered by college students in an apartment building hallway. Despite no note being left with the baby, Eyster picked up a teddy bear to provide comfort on the way to the hospital. The infant, named Matthew Hegedus-Stewart, was two days old when he was found abandoned.
During the investigation, Eyster could not shake the thoughts about Baby Jesus and wondered what became of him. He was relieved to learn that the baby had been placed with adoptive parents, but he still wondered about his well-being over the years. After 23 years, Eyster finally got answers when he received a call from Officer Josh Morgan, who was with a young man named Matthew Hegedus-Stewart. It turned out that Baby Jesus had become a police officer, and he was now Eyster’s rookie.
Hegedus-Stewart and Eyster were reunited on March 22, which was an emotional moment for the retired police lieutenant. Eyster, who had lost his son in January, saw similarities between Hegedus-Stewart and his late child. Hegedus-Stewart, now 23, is engaged and a father himself, with a 14-month-old daughter and another child on the way. He credits his adoptive parents for raising him well and is grateful for the opportunities he has had in life.
The reunion between Eyster and Hegedus-Stewart was marked by a series of coincidences that seemed to bring them together. As a police officer, Hegedus-Stewart ended up being assigned to the same beat where he was found abandoned as a baby. Eyster is proud of the kind of officer and person that Hegedus-Stewart has become, and his supervisors have commended his character and work ethic. Hegedus-Stewart reflects on his birth mother’s decision to abandon him, understanding that she may have been overwhelmed and unsure of what to do.
Despite growing up feeling anger and wondering “Why me?” Hegedus-Stewart is grateful for the life he has now, recognizing the love and support he received from his adoptive parents. He considers himself lucky and acknowledges the good fortune that brought him back to the very place where he was abandoned. Eyster is touched by the journey that Baby Jesus, now Officer Hegedus-Stewart, has been on and is proud of the person he has become. The story of Baby Jesus being found in a manger-like box and growing up to become a police officer is a remarkable tale of resilience and fate.
