Warning: This article contains content which some readers may find distressing.
A newborn baby boy was discovered in the bottom of a trash compactor by garbage collectors, police have said.
The horrific discovery happened as the sanitation collectors were servicing in a residential neighborhood, the 13200 block of Fountain Crest Drive in Harris County, Texas.
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According to witness Allen Hamilton, the workers were seen jumping around 'hysterical' and clearly displayed that something was wrong, as per The Mirror.
He said: "When I'm washing dishes, I have seen the trash guy on the phone jumping up and down, like hysterical. Like he just saw something."
Harris County officials held a press conference following the discovery and said they had launched an investigation to find out the identity of who had put the baby in the trash bin.
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According to police, the baby's age is estimated to be between a few days to a few weeks old, as per The State.
They also believe that the infant may have come from a northwest Houston neighborhood near where the body was discovered.
Local Sergeant Sydney Miller said at the press conference that authorities were trying to establish a timeline to figure out when the trash was compacted and how and when the baby would have ended up in the vehicle.
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He also said he didn't believe that this incident was the result of a miscarriage, Click2Houston reports.
The horrible discovery has since sent shockwaves through the neighborhood.
Expectant mother, Germany Scott, told the outlet that there were 'multiple options you can do if you don’t want a baby'.
"There is adoption, you can take it to a fire station, you can do whatever." she said. “But an innocent baby doesn’t deserve to be in a trash can at all.”
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Hamilton also added: "We just immediately started crying because, you know, she [Scott] about to be due in a couple weeks."
Another resident, Cheryl Boen, said: "Oh, this is insane. This is crazy.
"I never thought anything like this would happen in my neighborhood.
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"Just tragic that it's, you know, people can't, you know, can't find another way to deal with having a baby and throwing it in the garbage.
"I mean, that's just sick."
Miller explained that investigators have been asking neighbors whether they have noticed anyone who may have been pregnant in the last few days or weeks.
According to deputies, an autopsy to determine the baby's exact age and cause of death is scheduled to take place today (August 15).
No arrests have been made just yet, Click2Houston also reports.
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence regarding the welfare of a child, contact the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000, 8am–10pm Monday to Friday, 9am–6pm weekends. If you are a child seeking advice and support, call Childline for free on 0800 1111
Gerrard Kaonga