Baby found dead inside trash compactor in Houston, Texas

A newborn baby was discovered inside a trash compactor by sanitation workers in Houston, authorities said.

Trash collection workers were servicing a residential neighborhood in northwest Houston when they “discovered what appears to be a deceased newborn baby among the collected trash debris,” Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said in a post on X Wednesday morning.

Harris County Sheriff’s Office deputies were alerted that “sanitation technicians found what they believe to be an infant in the back of a trash compactor inside the truck” around 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Gonzalez said, speaking to media.

The baby’s body was discovered when workers stopped to compact trash after making collections on several streets, Gonzalez said.

Authorities arrived at the scene and found the baby, believed to be between one and 30 days old, inside the bottom of the trash compactor, Gonzalez said. The sheriff said the baby was not a miscarriage and appeared to be full-term. It’s unclear how long the baby had been dead before he was discovered.

Ongoing research

An investigation into the incident is underway and the sheriff said investigators were canvassing the area to collect surveillance video and speak to potential witnesses as they try to develop a timeline to understand who may have left the baby there.

The sheriff added that investigators “will probably be knocking on every door around here until we can get some leads.” In the meantime, the truck was moved to a secure location and Gonzalez said all items in it would be inspected for clues.

Gonzalez said the sheriff’s office was waiting for the Harris County Medical Examiner’s Office to determine the cause of the newborn’s death.

“We’re waiting for the medical examiner’s office to come and do their investigation,” Gonzalez said. “We’re going to go through the trash in the truck to try to get some clues as to where this trash with the baby came from and then go from there.”

Deputy Chief Constable Thomas Gilliland, in an update Thursday, said “the Institute of Forensic Sciences has collected the baby and an autopsy will be performed to determine the cause and manner of death.”

Law of Moses

Gonzalez noted that Moses’ Law is in effect, according to which a child 60 days old or younger can be left at any fire station or hospital without questions if the child cannot handle or care for the child.

“We ask anyone who is in that type of situation to please do so,” Gonzalez said.

Authorities have asked that anyone with information regarding the incident contact the HCSO Homicide Division at 713-274-9100 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-8477.

Saman Shafiq is a USA TODAY beat reporter. Contact her at [email protected] and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.