We're all used to a certain level of crime in the city - and to some extent we're all numb to it. But today when we saw a newborn baby discarded on the canal side, it struck a raw nerve. The baby seemed full term, or near to full term and appeared to have been a live birth - but it was strewn on the side of the canal like garbage, just some litter in a plastic bag.
It happened just around the corner form our studio on East canal and Daniel Ortiz has that story:
Daniel Ortiz reporting
This morning, at around 8:30, area residents on East Canal came upon a horrible site on the edge of the canal at the junction with South Street. The body of a baby boy, or a fetus had been flung into the canal.
The tiny body was stuffed inside a black plastic bag, and left there, a complete disregard for human dignity. The residents passing nearby were shocked that the baby was left abandoned, and they immediately began speculating about the character of the person who left it there.
We got a chance to speak with the man who first found him this morning. He's City Council Employee, Julian Jimenez, and he was on the job, cleaning near the canal, when he came upon the baby's body. He told us about that moment when he thought that the child's body was that of a dead dog, only to realize this was a human being:
Daniel Ortiz
"How come you found the baby this morning? Where you heading to work somewhere?"
Julio Jimenez - Found the Baby
"No, I am at work already. I work on the canal."
Daniel Ortiz
"What you do exactly?"
Julio Jimenez - Found the Baby
"I clean it out. I thought it was a dog at first. I took the bag out and when I saw another bag I said hmmm. I took about 3 bags out and when I opened it I said hmmm this looks like a dog and I hold it and I said wow."
Daniel Ortiz
"Unfortunately it was a baby."
Within half an hour, police and medical personnel arrived on the scene and retrieved his body. They are now trying to determine where the child came from.
Daniel Ortiz
"Explain what was it like picking up a baby like that, a human being?"
Julio Jimenez
"I feel very sad. It looks like a boy too."
Daniel Ortiz
"You think that maybe the parent discard him?"
Julio Jimenez
"I don't know what to say. An officer was passing and I said officer this side."
Daniel Ortiz
"So how did you know that it's a boy?"
Julio Jimenez
"Everything was showing."
Daniel Ortiz
"Did there seem to be any kind of injuries on the baby?"
Julio Jimenez
"I don't know. All I know it's a baby. I saw the head and the feet - it's a fetus."
Late information to 7News from street sources is that the baby was born at home and the mother told her boyfriend that it had died, and that it was wrapped in a sheet which he should throw out. He didn't and the next day she allegedly told him it was in the canal.
This is unofficial and police have not issued a statement. The baby was seen with its umbilical chord.
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