Woman Abandons Newborn Baby In Dumpster Behind Store In New Mexico

Authorities in New Mexico have arrested an 18-year-old woman who was seen on surveillance video abandoning a newborn baby in a dumpster over the weekend.

On Sunday, the Hobbs Police Department shared a post on Facebook about the incident and revealed the woman, Alexis Avila, who was arrested on two felony charges. Hobbs has a population of about 38,000 and is located near the border of New Mexico and Texas.

The surveillance footage captured Avila leaving the area Friday around 2 p.m.

It wasn’t until about six hours later that three people arrived and began searching through the dumpster.

At one point, someone pulled out a black plastic bag, and a woman was seen taking the baby out of it. Authorities were then called, and the newborn was transported to a local hospital. The baby was reportedly in stable condition.

As part of the investigations, authorities approached Joe Imbriale, the owner of Rig Outfitters and Home Store, to see his surveillance footage of the area where the baby was abandoned.

“Something wasn’t right, I saw the officers’ faces, and they did not look right. They really didn’t,” Imbriale told a local outlet.

The business owner revealed he wasn’t initially told why the officers needed to review his security cameras.

“I said, ‘what is it we are looking for, and she goes ‘we’re looking for somebody who dumped a black garbage bag in your dumpster.’ I turned around, I said ‘please don’t tell me it was a baby,’” said Imbriale.

Police officers used surveillance footage to track down Avila's car.

Avila reportedly confessed to giving birth in another location and leaving the baby in the dumpster. She was arrested and charged with an attempt to commit murder and child abuse. Both are first-degree felonies.

Avila is expected to be arraigned Monday in Lea County District Court.