SOUTH LOS ANGELES (KABC) — A mother was taken into custody in connection to the death of her baby who was found in a dumpster in South Los Angeles, authorities said.
The baby was discovered around 10:30 p.m. Monday at the Pueblo Del Rio housing project near Alba Street and Long Beach Avenue, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Authorities added the baby had been left within the last 24 hours.
Responding firefighters took the baby girl, who is estimated to be 4-6 months old, to the hospital where she was pronounced dead.
Her death is being investigated as a homicide. The LAPD said it was not gang-related and the baby was not homeless.
ABC7 was at the scene as the baby’s mother was placed in handcuffs and into a police vehicle.
Before she was taken into custody, ABC7 spoke to a couple at the scene who said the baby who was found might be their granddaughter. They said their daughter gave their granddaughter to the baby’s father around 6 p.m. Monday, but they have 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 at ease,” said Laura Lacey. “We need to know that’s not her.”
ABC7 also spoke with the woman who found the baby in the dumpster. She described the clothes that the baby was wearing as that to be similar to what the family at the scene described their granddaughter was wearing the last time they saw her.
There are resources for any parent who thinks they cannot care for a newborn child under California’s Safely Surrendered Baby law.
A baby can be safely surrendered without penalty within 72 hours of its birth provided the infant is left at a designated fire station or hospital. To find the nearest Safe Surrender site in Los Angeles County, call 1-877-BABYSAF (1-877-222-9723) or find a location online.
Copyright © 2026 KABC Television, LLC. All rights reserved.