Newborn's body discovered inside dumpster in Azusa

AZUSA, Calif. (FOX 11) - Police are investigating the death of a newborn girl whose body was found inside a dumpster in the back of an apartment complex in Azusa Thursday afternoon.

The Azusa Police Department said officers responded to a report of a baby left inside a dumpster at about 3:43 p.m. At the time, the newborn was motionless and had no signs of life, according to police.

Officers and firefighters on scene began life-saving measures on the baby before being taken to a local hospital where medical personnel pronounced the newborn girl dead.

"We just heard the family kind of outside, they were like where's the baby, looking for the baby, we assumed they were looking for a toddler or a little kid who had gotten out," said neighbor Daniel Larson.

"Just to hear the hysterics, the sobbing, the crying, the screaming and then them on the phone with the police," added neighbor Jessica Spencer. "It's just heartbreaking, it's really heartbreaking."

"I heard someone saying well why did they have to throw the baby away," said neighbor Savannah Larson.

Neighbors said the mother of the baby had recently moved to the complex and has what they described as "issues," but they wouldn't elaborate. They said she lived with a relative who is the grandmother of several other children who live in the home.

Police have not said if the baby was born alive and then discarded or if the newborn was stillborn.

"We remind everyone about Safe Haven law, you can surrender your newborn at a designated fire station, police station, or hospital without the fear of arrest or being prosecuted," the Azusa Police Department wrote in a Facebook post.

Police have not released the name of the mother but said she is 23 years old. No charges have been filed at this time and police are not looking for any other suspects. They believe the mother put her daughter in the dumpster.

The baby's father, who was not home at the time, is cooperating with police.

No additional information has been released at this time.