A U.S. teenager has been taken into custody in Paris following allegations that her newborn baby was thrown out of a hotel window and later died, according to prosecutors and French media reports.
The Paris Prosecutor’s Office stated that the young woman, whose identity has not been disclosed, was admitted to the hospital for surgery after giving birth and was later placed under police custody.
According to the prosecutor’s office, the infant “was allegedly thrown out of the second-floor window of a hotel” in Paris’s 20th arrondissement on Monday.
“The newborn was taken to emergency care but did not survive,” the statement continued.
Authorities noted that the mother, an American citizen, was part of a group of young adults traveling across Europe. They have since launched an investigation into the homicide of a minor.
Prosecutors also indicated the possibility that the young woman may not have been aware of her pregnancy or may have been in denial.
A spokesperson for the mayor’s office in the 20th arrondissement told CNN that the baby was discovered alive in a trash can near the hotel before being rushed to the Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital, a Paris children’s hospital. The infant later succumbed to its injuries.
French police and the U.S. State Department have yet to comment, and the hospital where the woman was treated has declined to provide details.
The caretaker of a building across from the Ibis hotel, where the incident occurred, described the chaotic scene in the early hours of Monday.
“There were police cars and ambulances,” said Maria, who did not disclose her last name. She mentioned that officers later knocked on her door seeking potential witnesses.
“At first, we thought it might be gang-related, but when we found out what had happened, we were devastated,” she told CNN, adding, “I’ve lived here for over 30 years, and this is a quiet neighborhood with very few tourists. It’s so sad.”
The U.S. Embassy in Paris confirmed it was aware of the incident and is “closely monitoring this case.”
“We are deeply saddened to learn of the recent tragedy involving the loss of a young life,” an embassy spokesperson said.
The incident was initially reported by Paris Match, while AFP and Le Parisien identified the young woman as 18 years old.
Source-CNN
