Baby found dead in dumpster in London, Ont., police investigating

Police are investigating after a newborn baby was found dead in a dumpster in London, Ont. and an autopsy has been scheduled for Friday to determine the cause of death.

London police received a report of human remains found in a garbage dumpster in the Richmond and Mill Streets area at around 11:30 a.m. Thursday.

“Our officers attended along with EMS and fire,” said Staff Sgt. Blair Harvey. “Upon arrival they did confirm that they found what they believed to be a deceased infant in a dumpster.”

READ MORE: RCMP investigate death of 4-year-old boy who went missing from N.S. home

The police’s Major Crime Section is investigating and updated information will be provided as soon as possible.

“We don’t have anything further at this time. As more information becomes available we will be providing it to the public,” said Const. Sandasha Bough, adding that the investigation was in its early stages.

“Any details with regards to age, gender, all of that … we will update the public as soon as we know more.”

Police said Thursday afternoon they had removed the body from the dumpster and had cleared the scene of the investigation.

READ MORE: 4-year-old found dead in Nova Scotia after going missing Wednesday

Mill St. was cordoned off from St. George St. to just west of Richmond for the investigation.

An autopsy has been scheduled for Friday and police will provide an update on the cause of death at a later time.

“The circumstances here are obviously quite unusual and you wouldn’t expect something like this to happen anywhere in our community,” said Harvey.

Get breaking National news

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.

Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up

By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

“Certainly this in an area that has a lot of pedestrian traffic, a lot of vehicle traffic, which presents some challenges in terms of securing the crime scene. But certainly, an event like this is unexpected anywhere.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "Certainly this in an area that has a lot of pedestrian traffic, a lot of vehicle traffic, which presents some challenges in terms of securing the crime scene. But certainly, an event like this is unexpected anywhere."

No information has been released on the baby’s age, gender or cause of death as Bough said it remains part of the active investigation.

Anyone with information in relation to this incident is asked to call the London Police Service at (519) 661-5670 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Information can also be sent in on-line anonymously to http://www.londoncrimestoppers.com.

With files from Tom Fraser and AM980