From a Cardboard Box to Brotherhood in Blue: Officer Matthew Stewart Reunites with the Detective Who Took His Case

In a follow-up to one of our most powerful Beyond the Box podcast episodes, we return to South Bend, Indiana, for Part 2 of Officer Matthew Stewart’s incredible story.

In Episode 3, we introduced Matthew, a police officer who was abandoned in a cardboard box as a newborn and went on to serve the very community where he was found. But in Episode 6, the story deepens in a way no one could have predicted.

A Reunion Two Decades in the Making

This time, Monica Kelsey sits down with retired detective Gene Eyster, the man who investigated Matthew’s abandonment case back in 2000. They hadn't seen each other in decades, until a chance conversation at the police station led to an unbelievable reunion.

Gene, who was working just days before Christmas that year, recalls the chilling moment:

“It was a winter storm. Winds at 20 miles an hour. Temperatures about 15 degrees. And there in a cardboard box, in an unheated hallway, was a newborn baby boy.”

Gene took the case personally. So personally, in fact, that he nicknamed the baby “Baby Jesus.”

“He was found just before Christmas, in a box, wrapped in cloth. And three people found him. It was like the nativity story unfolding on the South Bend streets.”

The Detective Who Never Forgot

For years, Gene wondered what became of the child he briefly called “Baby Jesus.”

He never expected that baby would one day wear the same badge, patrol the same streets, and bring the story full circle.

Their reunion brought unexpected healing. Gene had recently lost his son. Matthew, now a father himself, had just discovered the full backstory behind his birth. The two men quickly formed a bond that felt like fate.

“There’s something between us,” Gene said. “I can’t explain it. But it’s there.”

Healing, Hope, and Unfinished Chapters

The story is emotional, inspiring, and almost too incredible to believe. It’s also a powerful reminder of why Safe Haven Baby Boxes exist, to give desperate parents a safe, anonymous option and to ensure every baby has a chance at life.

🎧 Listen to Part 2 of Matthew’s story on Beyond the Box, now streaming everywhere podcasts are available.

📖 Want to hear the beginning of his journey? Read and listen to Part 1 here

Why Safe Haven Baby Boxes Matter

Since launching in 2016, Safe Haven Baby Boxes has helped safely surrender close to 60 infants in Indiana—and in that same timeframe, no illegally abandoned babies have been found dead in the state.

Because of Safe Haven’s expanding network and education efforts, the next baby like Matthew may not be placed in a cardboard box but in a box built with safety, life-saving technology, and within reach of first responders who are trained and equipped to get necessary care for every child placed in a Baby Box.

Want to Help Write the Next Story?

You can help change the ending for the next baby in crisis. Whether it’s supporting a new Baby Box, sharing the Safe Haven hotline, or giving monthly, your involvement with Safe Haven Baby Boxes changes lives. 

Because every life deserves a chance.
Because every child deserves a story of hope.

Support Safe Haven Baby Boxes
🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts!

Thank you for being a vital part of our Safe Haven family. Your passion and support make all the difference.