DENHAM SPRINGS, La. (TCN) — A 14-year-old girl has been charged with first-degree murder after a newborn baby girl was found deceased inside a tote bag.
On Nov. 21, deputies with the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office were called to an area hospital. Staff there said a teenage girl was in their care who had recently given birth at her home, WAFB reports.
Deputies then went to the girl’s home, where they reportedly located a tote bag containing a deceased newborn baby. The sheriff’s department said they believe the girl had hidden her pregnancy from her family and that she had placed the female infant’s body in the tote bag to conceal it.
WAFB reports the girl was initially charged with failure to seek assistance and obstruction of justice in connection with the newborn’s death. After an autopsy determined it was a homicide, the charge was changed to first-degree murder.
WWL-TV reports the infant had severe injuries to her neck. Livingston Parish Sheriff Jason Ard said the child was likely born alive at full term and was allegedly killed shortly after birth.
The 14-year-old is being held at a juvenile detention center.
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