5-Day-Old Baby Girl 'Violently' Killed Before Being 'Dismembered' and Dumped in Landfill: Reports

Authorities are continuing to investigate the remains of a newborn baby that were discovered in a landfill site in Madrid, Spain.

On December 12, 2024, at 1:46 a.m., the dismembered body of a 5-day-old baby was found in bags at a recycling plant in Loeches, according to a translation of reporting by local newspaper La Razón. The Civil Guard was subsequently alerted.

The discovery prompted an investigation referred to as “Operation Natal” with recent updates providing additional insight into the tragedy, including insight into the child’s death and origin, per the outlet.

Medical testing conducted at the Institute of Forensic Medicine determined that the baby, a girl, was likely of South American descent and was born alive. Per the outlet, she appeared to suffer a “violent death,” and showed “signs of asphyxiation.”

It is believed that the remains came from the Madrid district of Puente de Vallecas, with police centering their search on the area and attempting to identify the mother.

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According to reporting from the Daily Mail, police believe that the child’s mother played a role in the killing.

“From the investigations carried out so far, it has been possible to determine that the remains would correspond to a female baby and that she was born alive. There are indications that would point to her death being of a violent nature,” the Civil Guard said in a statement shared with the Daily Mail.

The organization added, “The investigations are still open, which is why citizen collaboration is requested for the total clarification of the criminal act.”

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PEOPLE contacted the Civil Guard and Spanish National Police for an update on the investigation but did not immediately hear back.