Woman Taking Out Trash Finds Crying Newborn

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- A Florida woman taking her trash out Thursday evening made a disturbing discovery after she heard a baby's cries coming from inside the Dumpster at her apartment complex.

Julia Carrion said she was taking her trash out at about 5 p.m. when she heard some crying and saw movement in the Dumpster at Beachwood Apartments.

"I couldn't believe it was a baby in there," Carrion said.

She called her neighbors over to help and then called 911.

"I saw movement and grabbed it out the trash. Someone gave me a shirt, and I wrapped the baby up," said neighbor Racshell McDowell.

Authorities said the newborn girl was only hours old and still had her umbilical cord attached. She is recovering from dehydration.

"It was wrapped up in a bloody sheet. When we took it out the sheet, it was a baby balled up," said neighbor Blanca Wilson.

The newborn, who neighbors said was about 7 or 8 pounds, was rushed to an area hospital, where authorities said she was breathing on her own and is expected to be OK.

Deputies with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office have begun to search for the girl's mother.

"We're talking to every resident in the complex right now and doing a canvass of the neighborhood to see if anyone saw anything suspicious or anybody pregnant in the last couple days conducting any type of suspicious activity," said Sgt. Andre Ayoub.

However, residents at the apartment complex said they think someone from another area dropped off the newborn.

"We didn't see anyone. We think someone rode up and dropped it off," Wilson said.

Florida does have a safe haven law, which allows parents to leave unwanted newborns at any hospital or fire station in the state.

The parents do not have to give their names, but the baby must be 3 days old or younger.

Anyone with information about the newborn found at the Beachwood Apartments Dumpster is asked to call Crimestoppers at 866-845-TIPS.