Woman arrested in connection to baby found in apartment complex dumpster

Woman leaves newborn baby in dumpster

The Austin Police Department says a suspect has been arrested in connection to a baby found in a dumpster.

AUSTIN, Texas - The Austin Police Department says a suspect has been arrested in connection to a baby found in a dumpster.

What they're saying:

APD says 22-year-old Neli Dinora Rivera Felipe was arrested and booked into the Travis County Jail.

Felipe is charged with abandoning or endangering a child, elderly individual, or disabled individual.

"Did she give any sort of reason why?" FOX 7 Crime Watch Reporter Meredith Aldis asked Detective Russell Constable.

At a news conference, police say Felipe gave a statement to them that "she thought the baby was lifeless."

Neli Dinora Rivera Felipe

Court documents revealed Felipe admitted to giving birth in her apartment on Friday, Sept. 19. She told police she was scared and unsure about what she would do with the baby and placed the baby in a white bucket and put it in the dumpster at around 9 p.m. that night. 

Survelliance footage shows the next morning at around 10 a.m., Felipe threw a bag of garbage into the same dumpster as the one she discarded her child in. It was about three-and-a-half hours after that when the baby was found by other residents at the complex off North Lamar.

"Their decision to act made it possible for first responders to intervene swiftly and provide the care this infant urgently needed," Detective Constable said.

Police said the infant is in the hospital and is receiving continued care but is doing well.

Felipe is in the Travis County jail being held on $50,000 bond.

Why you should care:

"I definitely want to encourage anybody that's found in a similar circumstance. This is before or after the baby's born. Please seek out and get help. There are safe ways to ensure that your baby can find a safe and stable home," Department of Family and Protective Services Angela Peoples said.

Texas has the ‘Safe Haven Law’ where people can drop off a child younger than 60 days old at a hospital, EMS station, fire station, or child-placing agency without being prosecuted.

"There have been 11 safe surrenders within the state of Texas this year. None have been in Travis County," Peoples said.

What happened?

The backstory:

Infant found in apartment complex dumpster

The investigation continues after an infant was found in a dumpster at a North Austin apartment complex. FOX 7 Austin's Jenna King has the details.

On Saturday, September 20 at around 1:37 p.m, APD officers responded a check welfare call about a baby reportedly found inside a dumpster in the 8600 block of North Lamar Boulevard.

Officers and Austin-Travis County Emergency Services arrived at the scene and found a baby and transported the baby to a local hospital.

APD Child Abuse Unit Detectives and Crime Scene Specialists arrived at the location to process the scene, gather evidence, and interview witnesses. 

Based on evidence gathered, detectives believe that Felipe abandoned the newborn infant in the dumpster.

What you can do:

This investigation is open and ongoing.

Anyone with any information should contact the APD Child Abuse Unit at 512-974-6880. 

You may also submit your tip anonymously through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program by visiting austincrimestoppers.org or calling 512-472-8477.