Nepean Hospital: Teen parents spent 16 hours on the run with newborn to avoid authorities

A TEENAGE couple spent 16 hours on the run with their three-day-old newborn, camped out in the wilderness to avoid authorities.

TEENAGE couple Jenifer Morrison, 15, and Jayden Lavender, 14, spent 16 hours on the run with their three-day-old newborn, camped out in the wilderness to avoid authorities.

A massive manhunt was launched after 14-year-old Jayden Lavender and his 15-year-old girlfriend Jenifer Morrison smuggled their baby Aria Jayde Tanya out of Nepean Hospital under a blanket just after midnight.

The pair, who were with an unknown man, feared authorities would take their child away from them because of their age.

Jenifer Morrison (in the white jumper), her boyfriend, Jayden Lavender and their daughter were found in Willmot today. Jayden’s mother Tracy Lavender is with them. Picture: Justin Sanson

Jayden was just 13 when he found out he would be a father and the pair were engaged a few weeks later

“He bought camping stuff from Kmart apparently and camped out for the night with his baby and his wife,” Jayden’s mother Tracy Lavender told The Daily Telegraph.

Three-day-old Aria Jayde Tanya was found safe with her parents.

The baby is assessed by paramedics at Willmot. Picture: Justin Sanson

The trio were found “safe and well” at Willmot yesterday evening.

“The ambulance ... found there was not one thing wrong with the baby,” Ms Lavender said.

“They’re young, yeah, they made the mistake of being young … (Jayden) had a choice to be a proper father and support his child or walk away.

Jayden Lavender, 14, and Jenifer Morrison, 15, and their baby girl have been found.

“He chose to be a man and stand by his girlfriend.”

“They’re good parents.”

Ms Lavender said her son had “been there the whole way through the pregnancy”.

“He was at the birth and he hasn’t moved from her (and) that baby since she was born.”

Its understood Jayden and Jenifer found out they were going to become parents on Father’s Day. A few weeks later they were engaged and planned to marry before the baby came along.

Jenifer and Jayden take care of their baby. Picture: Justin Sanson

They couldn’t because they were under 16 — despite Ms Lavender declaring she would have signed her consent for them to wed.

The pair live at Ms Lavender’s Dharruk home with her two other kids and another 13-year-old.

Jenifer, who Ms Lavender described as “life smart”, had previously moved between eight or nine family homes.

Jayden Lavender. Picture: Facebook

Jayden and Jenifer. Picture: Facebook

“Jenny is a good mum,” Ms Lavender said. “I have a child with a disability and she was phenomenal with him”

The street where the young couple and child were found. Picture: Nick Hansen

She said her son had hoped to raise their kid while attending St Agnes Catholic High School at Rooty Hill.

Police have said no one committed an offence so no charges would be laid over the incident.

Originally published as Nepean Hospital: Teen parents spent 16 hours on the run with newborn to avoid authorities