Newborn baby found buried in cemetery flowerpot with her umbilical cord still attached
Carrollton police reported Wednesday the discovery of a dead baby who was found buried in a flowerpot at a local cemetery earlier this month.
Detectives solicited help in the death investigation of the full-term infant after an employee at Perry Cemetery, 1805 N. Perry Road, in Carrollton, discovered the baby girl on March 11 while emptying the contents of a flowerpot that was out of place, the Star-Telegram reports.
The infant, who was found by the undertaker buried in soil, weighed 6 pounds and had the umbilical cord still attached, as determined by officials at the Dallas County Medical Examiner's office.
According to KXAS, the child’s mother was at least 34 weeks pregnant when she gave birth.
“It would seem that whoever placed the baby’s body there also put the flowers. We just don’t know at this point, which is why we’re appealing to the public,” said Carrollton police spokeswoman Jolene DeVito in a Wednesday news release.
“Her race could not definitively be determined,” she added. “We are awaiting further test results to determine whether she was born alive.”
The flowerpot was placed in the cemetery sometime between February 27 and March 2, officials told police. If the mother is identified and located, investigators have not revealed what charges would be filed against her, if any.
Nonetheless, officials hope to identify the child and give her a proper burial. “Among our immediate priorities is identifying the baby to ensure a proper burial,” authorities said.
The investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with information should contact Carrollton Detective Jennifer Cackler at 972-466-3324or email her at Jennifer.Cackler@CityofCarrollton.com.