Detention Reported in East Canal Baby Dump Case

A forty-two-year-old has been detained for her alleged involvement in the disturbing discarding of a newborn baby boy last Wednesday in East Canal in Belize City. While that person is not the suspected mother, she has been in detention for questioning in the matter. According to Inspector Wilfredo Ferrufino of the Crimes Investigation Branch, they have identified someone who may be the mother in question, but testing is being done to confirm this. Last Friday, a postmortem exam confirmed that the child died as a result of acute respiratory distress syndrome. Today, Inspector Ferrufino told the media that the investigation continues into the incident.

Wilfredo Ferrufino

Insp. Wilfredo Ferrufino, CIB, Belize City

“I don’t want to go into details at this point. What I can say is that we have spoken to persons of interests and there is one person in custody at this time…nobody has been charged and the investigation continues.”

Reporter

“Sir are you able to say or has the expert explained to you all what is the cause of it…was it a baby passed away during birthing, after it was born?”

Insp. Wilfredo Ferrufino

“The baby passed away after birth; after it was born.”

Reporter

“Was it because of injuries inflicted on the child?”

Insp. Wilfredo Ferrufino

“I don’t want to go into details. I’ll go as far as that.”

Reporter

“But is it suspected that you might bring charges against that person detained?”

Insp. Wilfredo Ferrufino

“[Umm] at this point I can’t say what exactly will happen. We are still continuing the investigation. An investigation like this is quite tedious and it may not produce an arrest today or tomorrow, but we will gather whatever evidence and look at it and seek advice and see if any charges will be levied, if any.”

Reporter

“But sir can you at least speak to the point or at least give us something that would indicate why the child was discarded in such a manner? If it was a case where it was still born or if it was a case where the child was sick, I mean there were certain procedures that could have been taken to give the child a proper burial or something of that sort. So it would be good if you could give us something as to why the child was discarded in that manner.”

Insp. Wilfredo Ferrufino

“I cannot say at this point why he was discarded in that manner. I think the manner in which he was found speak for itself. But regards to the investigation at this point, I don’t have anything to give you in details and I don’t want to venture into details of that. We have identified someone who may be the mother in question, yes. Like I said, there are tests that need to be done for any confirmation on that and so like I said, the investigation is ongoing.”

Reporter

“So what you are saying is that DNA samples have been taken from that person…”

Insp. Wilfredo Ferrufino

“Yes, all the relevant tests and collection of evidence have been done and that has been submitted for testing, etc.”