California man, Reggie Groves, find newborn baby found dead in trash can at curb
Authorities say a California man made a shocking discovery while retrieving his trash can from the curb: there was a dead, naked newborn baby inside that appeared to have suffered a head wound.
Reggie Groves, age 53, said he made the discovery on Friday morning outside his Bakersfield home.
Image Courtesy: Flickr/sabianmaggy
Groves told the Bakersfield Californian that the baby still had an umbilical cord attached. The newspaper reported that Groves began crying during the interview and went back into his house.
“I can’t imagine who would do something like that,” Groves said. “I thought maybe it was a sick joke, a baby doll or something.”
Groves asked his daughter to have a look, and she confirmed that it was a real baby girl with an umbilical cord attached.
The baby was naked and black due to decay, burning or bruising, he said, and had a head wound.
“It was kind of a shock,” Groves said.
The Sheriff’s Office did not release the gender of the baby, but approximated that it was just days old.
Under state law, a baby can be surrendered at any hospital emergency room or fire station within 72 hours of the child’s birth with no consequences.
Under state law, any unwanted baby can be surrendered at any hospital emergency room or fire station within 72 hours of the child’s birth with no consequences.
Mothers who change their minds have up to 14 days to reclaim their infant without fear of retribution.
