SOUTH EL MONTE, Calif.—Authorities April 29 were still searching for a woman who abandoned a newborn child found dead with his umbilical cord attached in the Whittier Narrows Recreation Area.
Homicide detectives were sent to the 1200 block of Lerma Road at about 8 a.m. Friday, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
Sheriff’s Lt. Hugo Reynaga told reporters at the scene that a man who was doing community service in the park was emptying trash cans when he spotted the small body on the ground.
Los Angeles County Fire Department paramedics responded and pronounced the infant deceased at the scene.
“This is a 6- to 7-month gestational period baby found with an umbilical court attached to the placenta,” Reynaga said. “We’re trying at this point to see if we can locate the mother of the child for medical reasons. She may be in distress or losing a lot of blood, and that’s all we have at this time.”
Authorities said the child appeared “fully developed,” and investigators believe the infant had been abandoned for approximately three hours before he was discovered. No traumatic injury was observed on the infant.
“We are saddened by the discovery of an infant at one of our Los Angeles County Parks. While the investigation is ongoing, we want to express our deepest condolences to the impacted family, friends, and community,” Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis and county parks Director Norma García- González said in a joint statement.
“Please know that our Department of Mental Health’s Help Line is available 24/7 to provide mental health support at 800-854-7771. In addition, we want to remind parents of newborns, that find themselves in difficult circumstances, that there are resources available to help.
“The Baby Safe Surrender Program provides parents with the choice to legally and safely surrender their baby at any hospital or fire station across the county of Los Angeles, no questions asked,” they continued.
Sheriff’s officials said no witnesses have come forward and there were no cameras in the park.
Anyone with information related to the boy’s death was urged to call the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500, or Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS.
