In a deeply disturbing incident, the body of a newborn baby was discovered abandoned in a hospital toilet in southern Gran Canaria, Spain, sending shockwaves through the medical facility and prompting a swift police investigation.
Shocking Discovery at San Roque Meloneras Hospital
The tragic find was made on the morning of Sunday, January 4, at the San Roque Meloneras Hospital in the municipality of San Bartolomé de Tirajana. A staff member came across the lifeless infant in one of the toilets at approximately 9:20 am.
Reports indicate the newborn was wrapped in paper and covered in blood, having been left on the premises. The employee immediately alerted hospital security and management, who then contacted the Spanish National Police without delay.
Police Investigation and Arrest
Officers from the Scientific Police and the Judicial Police based at the Maspalomas station rushed to the scene. They cordoned off the area, began collecting evidence, and reviewed security camera footage to identify who was responsible for abandoning the newborn.
The CCTV analysis proved crucial. Police identified a woman who had entered the bathroom around the time the birth was believed to have occurred. Authorities later located this woman outside the hospital, waiting at a bus shelter near the entrance.
The suspect, a 31-year-old Spanish national, was still wearing the same blood-stained clothes. She was arrested on the spot. Police sources have suggested the woman may struggle with drug addiction, though this is part of the ongoing inquiry and remains unconfirmed.
Woman's Statement and Ongoing Probe
According to initial information provided to the police, the woman stated that she did not realise she was pregnant, despite being near full term. She explained that she had gone to the hospital on Saturday evening around 8:30 pm feeling unwell.
She claimed to have given birth alone in the toilet without seeking any medical help. The woman alleged the baby was born alive and even cried before she wrapped it in paper and left it in the bathroom. She then exited the hospital without informing anyone.
In a startling twist, the woman reportedly returned to the hospital on Sunday morning, allegedly to check if the newborn had been found. It was during this time that the baby's body was discovered by staff, leading to her arrest on suspicion of abandoning a minor.
Following her detention, she was transferred to the Gran Canaria Maternity and Children's Hospital. She remains in police custody while she recovers from the birth. Authorities confirmed she had not been admitted to the hospital beforehand and had not sought prenatal care.
The investigation continues as police work to determine the precise circumstances of the birth and the cause of the infant's death. The baby's body has been sent to the Forensic Anatomical Institute for examination. Investigators are meticulously working to verify the details of the woman's account to establish a clear timeline of events.
