Infant found dead in Whittier Narrows; LASD investigating

An infant was found dead Friday in Whittier Narrows Park in South El Monte, and an investigation was underway.

Homicide detectives were sent to the 1200 block of Lerma Road about 8 a.m., according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Information was not immediately available on the infant’s identity, gender or cause of death.

Sheriff’s Lt. Hugo Reynaga told reporters at the scene that a man who was doing community service work in the park was emptying trash cans when he spotted the small body on the ground.

“This is a 6- to 7-month gestational period baby found with an umbilical court attached to the placenta,” Reynaga said in remarks aired on KNX radio. “That’s all we have at this point. There’s no cameras out here, there’s no video cameras in the park that would give us any more information.

“We’re trying at this point to see if we can locate the mother of the child for medical reasons. She may be in distress or losing a lot of blood, and that’s all we have at this time.”

Anyone with information on the case was urged to call the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500, or Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS. Tipsters may also use the website http://lacrimestoppers.org.