Paris
CNN
—

A teenage girl from the United States has been detained in Paris following allegations that she discarded her newborn baby from a hotel window, resulting in the infant’s death, according to prosecutors and French news sources.

The unnamed young woman was transported to a hospital for surgery after giving birth and was later placed in police custody, as stated by the Paris Prosecutor’s Office.

According to the prosecutor’s office, the newborn was reportedly thrown out of a second-floor hotel window in Paris’s 20th arrondissement on Monday. “The infant was rushed to emergency care but sadly did not survive,” they added.

“The mother, who is an American citizen, was with a group of young adults traveling through Europe,” the prosecutor’s office revealed, noting that an investigation into the homicide of a minor has been initiated. They mentioned that the young woman may not have been aware of her pregnancy or might have been in denial about it.

A representative from the 20th arrondissement’s mayor’s office informed CNN that the baby was discovered alive in a nearby trash container and swiftly transported to Necker Children’s Hospital in Paris, but unfortunately, the infant passed away there.

CNN has contacted both French authorities and the US State Department for further details. The hospital where the woman was admitted chose not to comment on the situation.

The caretaker of the building opposite the Ibis hotel reported that she and her husband were awakened by the sound of emergency vehicles early Monday morning.

“We heard the sirens, and soon after, police cars and ambulances arrived,” said Maria, who preferred not to disclose her last name. She reported that the police later visited her for potential eyewitness testimonies.

“Initially, we speculated it might involve gangs, but once we learned the truth about the incident, we were heartbroken,” she reflected.

Maria expressed her shock over the event: “I’ve lived here for more than 30 years, and this is usually a peaceful area with very few visitors. It’s incredibly sad.”

The US Embassy in Paris has acknowledged the reports regarding the arrest and is “closely monitoring the situation,” as shared with CNN.

“We are deeply saddened by the recent tragedy involving the loss of a young life,” stated the embassy.

The initial report of this case came from Paris Match, with subsequent coverage from AFP and Le Parisien indicating that the woman is 18 years old.