Dramatic new details emerge of how the newborn baby found dead in a stormwater drain was killed – as cops charge a woman over the tragedy

A woman in her 30s has been charged after the body of a newborn baby boy was found in a stormwater drain.

Tradesmen undergoing routine checks made found the baby while cleaning a drain on La Salle Road in the Perth suburb of Alexander Heights on Monday afternoon.

Detectives believe the newborn, wrapped in a sheet, had been placed in the drain several days earlier, prompting a search for his mother due to ‘serious concerns’ for her welfare.

WA Police on Friday confirmed a woman, believed to be the mother, had been charged with concealing the birth of a deceased child. 

She will face Perth Magistrates court at a later date.

‘At this stage, our information suggests the baby was not killed violently,’ WA Police Acting Inspector Jessica Securo told a press conference on Friday afternoon.

‘However the circumstances around the death of the child is ongoing. This, of course, is highly distressing for the entire community detectives, and the family of the infant.

‘The assistance of the community in this matter has been invaluable.’

Police have charged a woman after a newborn baby was discovered in a stormwater drain (pictured, officers at the scene) 

The woman, believed to be the child’s mother, was charged with concealing the birth of a deceased child (pictured, officers at the scene)

Authorities are still investigating the exact cause of the baby boy’s death.

‘The baby was not killed violently however the circumstances around the death of the child are ongoing,’ Insp Securo said.

The investigation is progressing, and I can’t answer at this stage if charges will be upgraded or not.’

Insp Securo added the mother was receiving physical and mental care ‘and when she’s able to, she’ll be put before the court’. 

The news comes two days after police said a woman was assisting with inquiries.

‘The Western Australia Police Force would like to thank the community for their concern, support and assistance,’ the statement read.

‘Given the sensitivities, we will be making no further comment at this time.’

‘The care of the mother should be all of our priorities at the moment,’ WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch told ABC Radio earlier in the day.

Shocked locals have placed stuffed toys and flowers (pictured) near the scene

Locals will hold a community vigil for the  baby boy on Saturday night (pictured, a makeshift memorial at the scene)

‘There’s probably a range of reasons (she hadn’t come forward), including legal, but health reasons, mental health reasons, all sorts of reasons why that mother needs the best care we can give them, and I think that’s got to be everyone’s priority right now.’

The tradesmen were clearing the drains of debris and assessing for blockages when they came across the grim discovery.

‘It was by coincidence that they were there,’ Detective Senior Sergeant Cleal said.

‘There was no information that sent workers to that drain. This was a chance discovery.

‘Not that you can prepare for a discovery like this, but they were very unprepared.’

The tragedy has shocked locals, who have placed tributes near the scene and will hold a candlelight vigil at Highview Park on Saturday night. 

‘Having to physically be in the area where a poor innocent infant is just heartbreaking,’ one woman told Seven News.

WA Premier Roger Cook added: ‘This is a horrifying, horrifying scenario, from the mother of this child through to the discovery of this child’s body by those drain workers.

‘I cannot think of a more harrowing set of circumstances for people to be confronted with.

‘This goes to the heart of everyone’s sense of humanity, a small child whose life has passed under tragic circumstances.’