Baby's Remains Found Inside Shoebox In Closet, Corpse Possibly Kept For 4 Years

Police in Cuyahoga County, Ohio have launched an investigation after a woman told them earlier this week that she found the remains of an infant inside a shoebox.

Authorities learned of the box after the woman and her adult daughter both went to the Euclid Police Department Tuesday to report the discovery, WJW first reported.

According to police chief Scott Meyer, the woman told police she found the shoebox containing the dead child in her daughter's bedroom closet. Officials believe the infant's remains have been inside the box for around four years.

"We just started this investigation but early indications are this may have been a teenage girl who had become pregnant and I think was very afraid, and fearful and wasn’t quite sure what to do," Meyer was quoted as saying.

The daughter was reportedly a juvenile when the incident took place, police said. She told police she allegedly thought the baby was stillborn.

"It’s all very sad," the police chief said. "We will obviously fully investigate this tragic incident."

Police said no charges have been filed and no one has been taken into custody over the incident.

The child's remains were sent to the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office to determine if it was breathing at the time of its birth.

In light of the incident, Meyer took the opportunity to remind the public of Ohio's Safe Haven Law. The law allows birth parents to surrender their newborns less than 30 days old to officials in their designated posts — such as a medical worker in a hospital or a police officer in their department — free from prosecution as long as the child is unharmed.

"If you are in this type of situation here in Euclid, please do contact us,” the police head said. "You can either come directly to the department or call us to the residence. We can work together on sorting this all out."