Passerby Finds A Baby's Decaying Body In Missouri Woods

A passerby found the decaying body of a baby in a wooded area in Missouri.

The passerby called 911 to report seeing the remains in the woods near the intersection of East 41st and Pitman Road in Kansas City on May 13. They then helped the responding officers from the Kansas City Police Department (KCPD), who were dispatched at around 7:45 p.m., in locating the body, WHSV-TV 3 reported.

Due to the decomposing state of the baby's remains, the child's age and gender were not immediately clear.

"It's hard, you know, not knowing the full story is hard. I know every one of these investigators wants to know what happened and what led to this, whatever the explanation is. We pray that someone didn't intentionally hurt this baby," KCPD Sgt. Jake Becchina said, according to KMBC 9 News.

Investigators gathered evidence at the scene and are awaiting autopsy results from the medical examiner's office to determine exact cause of the baby's death.

"This is a situation where we want to devote every resource we have," Becchina said at a media briefing held Sunday, as per WHSV-TV 3. "The biggest thing is that we know there are people in the community that know what happened here. There has to be. There is no other explanation for it."

Becchina hopes somebody will come forward with any information that could help with the investigation.

"There are connections that adult people make. There's technology that they carry with them. There's all sorts of things that can aid an investigation if they turn up dead. A small baby doesn't have that," Becchina added. "Right now, this baby is relying on somebody that knows something to come forward."

Lori Jaster, who lives in the area, said the discovery of the baby's remains was not "surprising."

"I'm pretty sure all my neighbors would have the same reaction," Jaster told KMBC 9 News. "It's not surprising. Just like gunshots regularly. You never know."

The resident also said a lot of people pass through the area where the remains were discovered.

"Constantly, people walking up, you never know what you're going to see," she added.