American Teen Accused of Throwing Infant Out of Paris Hotel Window Was on ‘Gap Year’ Trip

The American teen who was arrested in Paris after she allegedly threw a newborn out of a hotel window was in France as part of a gap-year program.

The 18-year-old, who has not been publicly named, is accused of throwing the newborn from a second-floor window of a Paris hotel on Monday, Feb. 24, PEOPLE previously reported, citing the Paris prosecutor’s office. 

The newborn was taken to the hospital but did not survive, the prosecutor’s office said in its statement, adding that it had opened an investigation into a homicide of a minor.

The woman was reportedly on a trip through a Massachusetts-based international cultural program, the Associated Press reported. 

EF Gap Year, which coordinates international educational programs across twelve countries, including Switzerland, Italy and France, confirmed to AP that the teenager was in France as part of their cohort. 

“We are deeply shocked and saddened by this tragic event, and our thoughts are with everyone affected during this difficult time,” the organization said in an emailed statement to AP. 

Details surrounding the circumstances of the incident are sparse.

The infant was reportedly attached to its umbilical cord and wrapped in a cloth when it was found, Barron’s reported, citing local police.

The body was found after it had been moved to a trash can nearby, CNN reported, citing authorities. 

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The U.S. Embassy in Paris did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s requests for comments, but told CNN they are “monitoring” the case.

“We are deeply saddened to learn of the recent tragedy involving the loss of a young life,” the embassy told the outlet.