Police Suggest Murdered Baby’s Mother Could Also Be Victim

More than 20 officers from three police departments are working around the clock in the investigation of the dead baby boy found at a recycling plant in Elmsford. Few leads have materialized and they are reaching out to the public for assistance in finding the baby’s mother, who they suspect may also be a homicide victim.

“This was a brutal homicide of a newborn child,” said Spring Valley Police Chief Paul Modica.

The infant boy’s body was wrapped in a garage bag and is believed to have been placed in the dumpsters behind the Maple Ave Convenience Store in Spring Valley before it was found in the transfer station in Elmsford on Tuesday, Nov. 12. Modica spoke about the investigation today in front of the dumpsters and a nearby candle memorial. 

“One of our concerns is that we do get it out to the community that this wasn’t a stillborn child,” said Modica. “This was a full-term baby that was brutally murdered.”

He said they considered releasing photos of the baby, who is described as Hispanic, but said the murder was too brutal. Police are hoping the community comes forward with details about a pregnant woman who was pregnant two weeks ago and no longer is or who has disappeared. 

“At this time we are looking for a female that was pregnant two weeks ago and is no longer pregnant,” said Chief Modica. “In the community we’re hoping that information comes forward. A second concern of ours is we don’t know if we have a second victim here. The mother of this child has not shown up. We don’t know if she’s also a victim somewhere that needs assistance or is possibly the victim of another homicide.” 

Spring Valley, Elmsford and Westchester County police officers have been working on the investigation into the murder of “Baby Angel.” They have been canvassing local neighborhoods for leads.

“Since Nov. 12 we’ve been consumed by this,” said Chief Modica. “We are all fathers. We are all mothers. We have children.” 

Pastor Juan Pablo Ramirez spoke on behalf of the Latino Pastors Association of Rockland County and asked the Hispanic community members to share any information they may have.

“Our hearts are broken that somebody from our community would give birth to a child, to a newborn and then in turn throw it, throw the baby in a dumpster,” said Pastor Ramirez.

He said they were worried about the condition of the mother and asked people to come forward. 

“We’re asking all of our community members that if you know something or if you saw something or you have any doubts about anything please approach one of the pastors in all confidentiality and we will let the information be known to our local authorities,” said Pastor Ramirez. 

The newborn has been named Baby Angel. Donations have poured in for the 10 a.m. Saturday service at St. Joseph’s Church on North Main Street/Route 45 in Spring Valley.

Police are distributing flyers offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for the murder and showing the items found with baby’s body - a woman’s skirt commonly worn in the Hasidic and Ecuadorian communities and flowered towel that the baby’s body was wrapped in. The hotline number is 866-313-8477.