WARNING – DISTRESSING CONTENT: A 14-year-old mother has been charged with murder in the US after a baby was discovered dead in a tote bag with autopsy revealing the infant was killed after birth
A 14-year-old mother has been charged with murder in the US after a baby was found dead in a tote bag in Louisiana.
The Mirror reports the teenager is accused of first-degree murder after medical personnel believe the baby was born and ‘killed immediately after birth’ before being found in the tote bag according to authorities.
Investigations began on Friday, November 21 after police were called to a hospital regarding an adolescent seeking medical help after giving birth at home in Livingstone Parish. She was then accused of obstructing justice and failing to seek help in connection with her newborn’s death.
Livingstone Parish Sheriff’s Office arrived at the home in Denham Springs when they learned that the girl had given birth and hidden the baby in a bag. According to authorities when the ‘tote’ was recovered the baby was found dead inside.
Livingston Parish Sheriff Jason Ard said: “Medical personnel believe the infant was carried to full term, born alive, and killed immediately after birth. It is believed the teen did conceal her pregnancy from family.
“As you can imagine, this has been a difficult case for all first responders involved. Please keep them and the family in your thoughts as this very sensitive investigation continues.”
The Sheriff confirmed that the 14-year-old was was charged with first-degree murder after an autopsy revealed that the cause of death was homicide.
The teenager has been placed under arrest at the Florida Parishes Juvenile Detention Center.
The arrest follows another case where the remains of a fetus were discovered in a black bag in a Brooklyn leaf pile on November 20. The unrelated incident startled Brooklyn neighbours according to the Mirror US.
The bones of the baby boy suggested to police that the child was between five and seven months along in the pregnancy. The remains were discovered between two buildings in the Bay View Houses on 102nd Street at approximately 11am on Thursday.
According to police sources, a worker made the horrifying discovering when sweeping up leaves on the property. Eyewitness Erik Roman said: “I saw the whole crime scene unit. It’s crazy. A lot of people are devastated over here.”