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SANPETE COUNTY -- An investigation is underway in central Utah that involves the death of a baby whose body is believed to have been thrown into a garbage dumpster. Indications are that the baby was stillborn and the teen mother who gave birth became frightened.
It is a very unfortunate situation, and because the teen mother involved is a minor, officials are releasing few details about what happened.
At this point, they do not believe the baby's death was intentional, rather that the mother was scared about explaining why her baby was stillborn, and that led her to putting it in a dumpster.
Authorities were notified on Friday night that the stillborn baby was likely buried in the county landfill after the mother delivered the baby at her home, apparently several days earlier. Someone who knew the girl was expecting noticed she was no longer pregnant and started asking questions.
The White Hills Landfill is located outside of Gunnison in Sanpete County and that is where all residential garbage from the county is taken.
"It is our understanding that it may be out at the landfill, and so we are trying to figure out the best approach. The area we believe it may be in is secure," said Sanpete County sheriff's Sgt. Greg Peterson.
Local officials are meeting to decide what to do next and weighing the dangers and risks of having teams search through tons of garbage for the baby's remains.
Sources told KSL News that the area landfill workers isolated as where the baby was likely dumped is more than 20 feet deep and has already been covered up by dirt.
Investigators would not release the teen mother's age, if the baby was a boy or a girl or which community in the county she is from.
Police have interviewed the girl and, as of right now, she does not face any criminal charges.
E-mail: spenrod@ksl.com
