An infant was found dead next to a dumpster outside a Fort Worth motel Sunday night, police confirmed, and investigators have not yet released the child's identity, named the parents, or said whether anyone will face charges. The cause of death remains under investigation.
Fort Worth police officers responded to the 7300 block of West Camp Bowie Boulevard just after 8:30 p.m. Sunday following reports of a deceased child, according to WFAA.
Police have not disclosed the infant's identity, and the same report notes that officers have not identified the child's parents or said whether charges will be filed as the investigation continues.
Cause of Death Remains Under Investigation
The cause of death remains under investigation.
The Fort Worth Police Department's Crimes Against Children Unit was assigned to the case. The department operates with an authorized strength of nearly 1,900 sworn officers across the city.
The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services' Child Protective Investigations division also investigates child fatalities.
Texas Law Provides a Safe Haven Option
Texas law also offers parents a lawful alternative. Under the state's Baby Moses Law, part of Family Code Subchapter D, a parent may anonymously surrender an unharmed infant up to 60 days old at a designated emergency care facility without facing criminal prosecution for abandonment or neglect, according to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. Designated Safe Haven locations include firehouses, EMS stations and hospitals, and surrendered children generally receive a hospital check-up.
Texas lawmakers expanded the framework in 2023 to include climate-controlled newborn safety devices, commonly called Safe Haven Baby Boxes. Texas became the first U.S. state to pass a Safe Haven law in 1999 after high-profile public infant abandonment cases prompted lawmakers to create the legal alternative, and every other state has since followed suit, according to the Alliance For Children.
Statewide Child Safety Efforts Offer Context
State child safety discussions have included neglect definitions, community prevention and partnerships.
No further details about the Fort Worth infant's age, cause of death, or how the child came to be found outside the motel have been released. Police have not said whether the birth occurred at the motel or elsewhere before the child was discovered, and the investigation remains active.
