Officials Believe They've Identified Mother Of Newborn Found Dead In Trash

SOUTH EL MONTE (CBSLA.com) — Authorities believe they have identified a young mother whose newborn was found dead Thursday evening in a South El Monte pile of garbage.

The unidentified 20-year-old woman has a 2-year-old daughter.

The boy's body was found in trash in the 2600 block of Chico Avenue.

The woman reportedly lives nearby and went to a hospital for emergency treatment.

The staff determined the woman had recently given birth, according to Deputy Peter Gomez of the LA County Sheriff's Headquarters.

"The woman then admitted to hospital personnel ... she had taken the baby to another hospital and left the newborn with hospital personnel," said Deputy Irys Alvarez.

Hospital officials contacted area hospitals in attempts to verify her story.

There was no record of a baby being voluntarily surrendered, prompting them to contact authorities, Alvarez said.

"Shortly after 4 p.m., sheriff's deputies along with Los Angeles County Fire Department personnel went to the (Chico Avenue) location and discovered the lifeless body of a newborn baby inside a trash container, nearby the newborn's mother's residence," Alvarez said.

The woman remains hospitalized.

Authorities said no charges have been filed in the case pending further investigation, including the boy's autopsy.

Investigators said the woman's 2-year-old daughter was taken into protective custody by Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services.

Since 2001, under Los Angeles County's Safe Surrender program, a parent or legal guardian can hand over an infant three days old -- or younger -- at any ER or fire station in the county without fear of arrest or prosecution, as long as the baby has not been abused or neglected.

Information on the program is available on the 24-hour hotline, (877) BABY-SAFE. Safe surrender sites can be obtained by calling the county helpline number -- 211 -- or via the website www.babysafela.org.