NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — Police on Thursday announced that the death of newborn twins found behind a Bronx building last fall was deemed a homicide.
The identical twins boys were discovered on College Avenue, near and East 172nd Street in Claremont on Nov. 9, 2020 by the building’s superintendent less than 12 hours after they were killed, according to police.
Commanding officer of the Bronx homicide squad Lt. William O’Toole, Detective Brianna Constantino and Officer Shamika Thomas gave an update Thursday.
According to O’Toole, the medical examiner determined they were beaten to death.
“It doesn’t appear to be from a fall. It appears to either be a hit or purposely blunt force trauma,” O’Toole said.
Both infants were naked, and one had a shower loofah wrapped near his neck, O’Toole added.
The NYPD is pleading for the public’s assistance and offering an increased reward for information about the infants’ deaths of up to $10,000—up from $2,500.
“Someone has to know something. So we’re asking for the public’s help,” O’Toole said.
O'Toole also mentioned the infant's mother saying "of course she’s considered a person of interest. We’d like to speak to her. What trauma or what situation was she in... she gave birth to these babies and someone threw them in the garbage.”
Anyone with information is asked to call NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).