NEW YORK (1010 WINS) – Officials on Tuesday said that the death of a newborn baby discovered inside a dumpster in Brooklyn has been ruled a homicide.
The child's mother, Jahmika Small, 27, was charged on Thursday with reckless endangerment and acting in a manner injurious to a child less than 17 years of age after her newborn was discovered in a dumpster at NYCHA's Coney Island Houses last Wednesday, police said.
The Brooklyn DA's office will handle any upgraded charges, cops said.
Police said they received the call from the mother shortly before 5 p.m. Wednesday in Coney Island. They said the woman said she had given birth but could not say where the infant was.
Officers searched her home on W. 28th Street, near Surf Avenue, but could not find the child, police said.
Citizen App video shows investigators at the scene Wednesday night.
Police Activity @CitizenApp
Mermaid Ave & W 28th St Yesterday 9:15:56 PM EST
The Emergency Service Unit responded and canvassed the area, police said, eventually finding the infant unresponsive in a dumpster on W. 27th Street.
The newborn was pronounced dead, according to police.
The medical examiner will determine how the child died.
Police sources told the New York Post that the mother allegedly admitted to leaving the newborn in the dumpster. The sources said it appeared she had given birth earlier this month.
