A horrifying event unfolded in an apartment building in Saint-Étienne when residents discovered a newborn baby abandoned in the trash room. Around 4:30 a.m. on Sunday, March 24, neighbors were awakened by the sound of a baby crying, leading them to make a heartbreaking discovery.
Upon stepping outside, they noticed bloodstains in the hallway. Following the trail, they reached the basement storage area, where they found the helpless newborn. Alone and vulnerable, the baby had been left in distressing conditions.
Realizing the severity of the situation, residents immediately contacted emergency services. The baby’s weak cries and the presence of blood suggested that the birth had occurred only moments before. Medical teams from the Loire Samu and the Départemental Fire and Rescue Service of Loire (SDIS) arrived quickly to assist.
The newborn, suffering from hypothermia and still attached to the umbilical cord, was in urgent need of medical care. A doctor at the scene provided immediate treatment, and the baby was soon stabilized. Fortunately, reports confirmed that the child was in no immediate danger and was taken to CHU of Saint-Étienne hospital.
Law enforcement classified the case as an attempted murder and launched an investigation. Police officials emphasized that the baby’s survival was due to the quick response of both residents and medical teams.
Initial findings suggest that the mother, a 20-year-old woman living in the same building, may have experienced a repressed pregnancy. Investigators believe she gave birth alone in her apartment’s bathroom before abandoning the child.
Following the blood trail, police located the woman, who answered the door when they arrived. She was immediately taken to the city’s North Hospital for medical evaluation. Investigators will question her once she is medically stable.
The disturbing incident left the neighborhood in shock. Thanks to the prompt action of the residents, the newborn was saved from what could have been a tragic fate.
