Newborn baby found dead in street, Arizona police say. ‘Utterly horrific’

A report of an injured child in a Phoenix street led to the discovery of a dead newborn, Arizona police told news outlets.

“It’s utterly horrific,” neighbor Joel Coplin told KPNX. “They thought it was a doll at first, but it wasn’t.”

Police responding to reports of an injured child found the newborn, estimated to have been born at 20 to 24 weeks, at 1 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 12, KNXV reported.

The area is near a large camp of homeless people, AZ Family reported.

Coplin told KPNX a neighbor told him someone was seen setting something on fire. When residents went to douse the blaze, they discovered the dead newborn, according to Coplin.

Police did not release additional details about the discovery or the child.

The medical examiner’s office will conduct an autopsy, KNXV reported.

Police ask anyone with information to call 602-262-6151 or Silent Witness at 480-948-6377.

This story was originally published November 13, 2022 at 1:35 PM with the headline "Newborn baby found dead in street, Arizona police say. ‘Utterly horrific’."