Man, who has a history of legal trouble related to substance abuse, sneaked into NICU, pretended to be the baby’s father and bottle fed the newborn; the child’s parents are now suing the hospital

The child’s parents are now suing the hospital after a stranger sneaked into the NICU, pretending to be the newborn child’s father. He then bottle fed their newborn baby and changed the child’s diaper. The couple said they filed the lawsuit to make sure something like this does not happen again.

The couple from Iowa, Gabrielle Lage and Chase Adams, are now suing Mercy One Medical Center for the security lapse, per reports. The parents are also suing 36-year-old man who reportedly admitted he slipped into the NICU. He was later identified as Adam Wedig.

Prosecutors said the defendant reportedly followed a nurse through a secure door into the NICU, fed the couple’s baby a bottle and changed the child’s diaper.

The 36-year-old man reportedly admitted doing it, but he hasn’t said why.

The baby was not harmed, authorities said.

Thomas Slater, the couples’ lawyer, released the following statement:

“If a stranger can gain access to the NICU, it says loads about the lapse of security Mercy has. Hopefully this will change things and change them permanently for the better.”

This incident occurred on Dec. 27. It remains unclear how Wedig was able to make his way into the ICU unit.

MercyOne announced that it’s planning to re-educate staffers about security protocols, to increase identification checks and visitor-sign in procedures at hospital entrances, to implement other enhanced security measures, and to beef up staffing levels in nurseries and around the neonatal intensive care unit.

The Associated Press reports that the 36-year-old man has been found guilty of misdemeanor trespassing and ordered to pay $736 in fines, charges and court costs. Wedig was found guilty on Thursday.

Wedig has a history of legal trouble related to substance abuse, according to court records.

At the time of his arrest, Wedig was reportedly booked on a parole violation. It remains unclear what crime Wedig previously committed. This is a developing story and it will be updated as new information become available.