Teen Who Threw Baby In Dumpster Was Clueless About Her Pregnancy Till The Day Before Birth: Police

A New Mexico teen who abandoned her newborn baby in a dumpster last week did not know she was pregnant till the day before her delivery, said police.

Alexis Avila, 18, was arrested Saturday after being caught on camera dumping her baby in the dumpster at the 1400 block of N. Thorp in Hobbs. She confessed to the crime and was charged with attempted murder and felony child abuse, reported NBC News.

Hobbs Police Interim Chief August Fons said in a news conference Monday that Avila was not aware of her pregnancy until Jan. 6 when she sought medical care for stomach pain and constipation.

She experienced labor pain the next day and unexpectedly gave birth. "She further explained that she panicked and did not know what to do or who to call," Fons was quoted by KTLA.

She then cut the umbilical cord, wrapped the baby in a towel before wrapping it inside a large trash bag, said court documents.

Avila told deputies that she started driving around until she found the green dumpster. She placed the baby inside it. The video showed Avila pulling up to the dumpster in a white vehicle before throwing a black plastic bag in it, and driving away.

A search at her car and home revealed blood evidence, clothing and a towel.

The baby was found six hours later by a group of people looking through the dumpster. They heard the child but assumed it was a dog or kitten. But they moved the bag to find the infant inside.

They alerted the authorities, and the baby boy was kept warm until the paramedics arrived. The baby is in the custody of the New Mexico Children, Youth, and Families Department and is stable.

According to the police, Avila's parents too were unaware of their daughter's pregnancy and only knew that she was having some stomach problems.

Meanwhile, Ibukun Adepoju, a public defender representing Avila, issued a statement calling the incident a "tragedy" and that her client is "barely 18 herself."

"Whatever happened is already a tragedy for her family and the community. As humans, we should practice compassion as we wait for the justice system to work,” Adepoju said.