"Baby" DOE - 2 months - (2009) Houston TX

A mummified baby was found in a northwest Houston apartment late
Wednesday night, and investigators are working to determine how the
baby died.
Police said a relative of the baby made the discovery at the mother’s apartment on Sherwood and called 911.
The baby was reportedly wrapped in a blanket.
Police arrived at the scene, where the 24-year-old mother lives with three small children, around 11:30 p.m.
Investigators said they found some items related to the baby in a nearby dumpster.
The mother gave birth about two months ago, but police said it’s not known if the baby was alive when it was born.
Investigators said it was also unclear why the mom didn’t seek medical help.
"She didn’t clearly answer why, and that’s one of the things we want to talk to her about," Jack Harvey of HPD Homicide said.
The mother was taken in for questioning, but charges have yet to be filed.

In a modest apartment complex on Shorewood Lane, an unsettling discovery has been made behind the door to apartment number 41.
"I heard about the lady who mummified her child, and I was
astonished by it," said neighbor Nick Romano. "I didn’t know what to
say."
The call came in to HPD just before midnight.
"Upon arrival patrol officers found what appeared to be the
mummified remains of an infant wrapped inside a blanket," said Jack
Harvey, and investigator assigned to HPD’s homicide division.
The infant’s body was found underneath a vanity and was so badly
decomposed; police at the scene were unable to determine a gender. The
discovery was made by the parents of the 24-year-old woman who lives
there after they noticed a foul odor coming from the apartment.
It all begs some disturbing questions. Chief among them: was the infant stillborn or alive?
"At this point we’re not sure if it was a homicide," said
Harvey. "We’re not even sure the fetus was ever alive, but it’s highly
auspicious, and we’re going to go ahead and investigate it."
The mother, who has three other children, was taken to HPD
headquarters for questioning. Police said she is cooperating.
However, no charges have been filed, and no one has been taken into
custody pending the outcome of an autopsy. Given the state of
decomposition, police say that could take weeks or perhaps even months.

http://www.click2houston.com/news/21661882/detail.html
Baby's Mummified Remains Found

Police Said Baby Has Been Dead For Months

POSTED: Thursday, November 19, 2009
UPDATED: 4:44 pm CST November 19, 2009
HOUSTON, Texas -- The mummified remains of a baby were found at an apartment complex in northwest Houston, KPRC Local 2 reported Thursday.

WATCH IT: Neighbors Shocked At Discovery
Police
said the remains were found inside a trash bin at the Sherwood Glen
Apartments in the 3800 block of Sherwood Lane at about 9:30 p.m.
Wednesday.A woman told police she was baby-sitting a relative's
children when she smelled something foul coming from a bathroom, then
discovered the remains under a sink, wrapped in a blanket.The woman then called other family members who also live in the complex.According to relatives, they threw the remains in the Dumpster, not knowing what was inside the blanket.Police said those remains were of a baby boy who had been dead since Sept. 18."A
woman delivered a fetus of unknown term approximately two months ago.
It was wrapped up and stored inside the house," said Jack Harvey with
the Houston Police Department.Investigators are questioning the
24-year-old mother. She said she delivered a stillborn two months ago,
got scared and wrapped the body in a blanket and placed it under the
bathroom sink.The woman also has three other children, ages 1, 4 and 5. She said no one knew she was pregnant."At
this time, it's too early to tell whether the baby was born alive or
not. It's pending an autopsy by the Harris County Medical Examiner's
Office. They're going to determine the cause and manner of death,"
Harvey said. "Apparently, it was a secret to everyone except for her."Police are working to determine if the father of the woman's three children is also the father of the baby.Investigators said no arrests will be made until after an autopsy.Estella Olguin, spokeswoman for Child Protective Services said a CPS investigation is pending until the official cause of death."If
in fact, the baby was born already deceased, then we certainly want to
get help for the mother, whether it's medical help or grief services,"
said Olguin. "If there's any foul play involved, that the child didn't
die by natural causes, then we have to look at the safety of the other
children."Investigators said the baby appeared to be full-term.Harris
County Child Protective Services said women with questions or concerns
about their pregnancy can call the baby abandonment hot line at
877-904-SAVE.

Quote followed by Jute's comment highlighted in red. Some say the child died two months ago and other articles say it was a two-month old infant. -IMFO


11-19-2009, 11:46 PM #2
Jute
Elite Member




Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 13,893

Quote:
But it's where the baby was originally found that is also part of the investigation. Authorities say the two-month-old infant was found underneath a bathroom sink. The parents of the 24-year-old mother made the discovery when they were looking for the source of an unknown odor.

Authorities say the mother admitted that the baby was hers and she had given birth to the infant September 18. The baby boy was stillborn, she says.


How could she claim that a 2-month old infant was stillborn? I can't believe that her other children were left in her care.


http://helpfindthemissing.org/forum/showthread.php?t=18520