Florida police said they opened a death investigation after a jogger reported finding the remains of a fetus washed up on a beach.
The harrowing discovery was made Tuesday at Miami Beach, according to statements from Miami Beach Police Officer Christopher Bess.
A jogger called in the report at about 1:30 p.m. near 79th street. Police responded and started cordoning off the area. A policeman was recorded moving the remains with a shovel.
“The beach goer observed human remains and that’s what was conveyed, they alerted our ocean rescue department, who we work very closely with and they’re the ones who informed the police department,” said Bess to reporters.
Four hours after the child was discovered, a medical examiner arrived and placed the remains in a bag in order to perform an autopsy.
“There are a lot of steps that we currently have not gotten to yet,” said Bess.
“The priority at this point is crime scene preservation,” he added, “which is why you see the box there, that’s why you see the crime scene tape, and it’s getting to the medical examiner’s office so that we can conduct our assessment with our medical professionals.”
He said they didn’t know who the mother was and did not know whether she was involved in the death of the child.
“We don’t know what the mother’s part — if she played a part — in this,” said. “We don’t know if this was possible miscarriage… there are a lot of unknowns.”
A forensic lab will use a DNA sample from the baby in order to try to identify the child’s mother.
“Honestly, due to the elements, it’s a beach with saltwater, sand… the medical examiner’s office will have to help us with this,” Bess added.
Here’s a local news report about the incident:
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