Baby dead after being found in dumpster in South Los Angeles, mother taken into custody, police say

SOUTH LOS ANGELES (KABC) — A mother has been taken into custody in connection with the death of her baby found in a dumpster in South Los Angeles, authorities said.

The baby was discovered around 10:30 p.m. Monday on Alba Street near Long Beach Avenue, according to Los Angeles police. Authorities added that the baby had been abandoned within the past 24 hours.

Responding firefighters took the little girl, aged 4 to 6 months, to the hospital where she was pronounced dead.

His death is being investigated as a homicide. The LAPD said it was not gang-related and the baby was not homeless.

ABC7 was on scene as the baby’s mother was handcuffed and put into a police vehicle.

Before she was taken into custody, ABC7 spoke to a couple at the scene who said the baby found could be their granddaughter. They said their daughter handed their granddaughter over to the baby’s father around 6 p.m. Monday, but they had not heard from him.

“We’re just trying to make sure it’s not her… She needs to call us so we can all be comfortable,” Laura Lacey said. “We need to know it’s not her.”

ABC7 also spoke with the woman who found the baby in the dumpster. She described the clothes the baby was wearing as similar to what family at the scene described her granddaughter wearing the last time they saw her.

There are resources for any parent who thinks they cannot care for a newborn under California’s Safely Surrended Baby law.

A baby can be returned safely and without penalty within 72 hours of birth, provided they are left at a designated fire station or hospital. To find the nearest Safe Surrender location in Los Angeles County, call 1-877-BABYSAF (1-877-222-9723) or find a location online.