An 18-year-old American woman has been arrested in Paris after being accused of hurling her newborn child—reportedly with the umbilical cord still attached—out of a hotel window. The incident occurred around 6 a.m. on Monday at an Ibis Styles hotel in the 20th district of Porte de Montreuil, according to a police source and the Paris public prosecutor’s office.
The newborn was allegedly thrown from the second-floor window and, despite being rushed to the Robert Debre hospital, succumbed to the brutal injuries and died at around 7:45 a.m. local time. Neighbors reported hearing screams around 6:00 a.m., prompting them to call authorities.
Investigation underway
Sources from the prosecutor’s office told CBS News that investigators are looking into the possibility that the woman “had been in denial of her pregnancy.” The juvenile protection brigade has been tasked with the investigation into the homicide of a minor under the age of 15. A statement from the prosecutor’s office noted, “The newborn was treated urgently but did not survive.”
The mother, an American national, is part of a group of young adults traveling in Europe. She was taken to a hospital for post-delivery surgery and is being held in custody on-site. The possibility of denial of pregnancy is being considered as part of the investigation.
Reaction and aftermath
The traumatic scene outside the hospital attracted numerous officials, including representatives from the prosecutor’s office. An unnamed witness described the scene as “like a nightmare, something you never want to see, especially not in your own street.”
The Ibis Styles Hotel, where the incident allegedly took place, is situated on the outskirts of the city center, close to the Place de la Nation, and a short metro ride from Paris’ major tourist sites. The incident has left the community shaken, with many questioning whether the mother acted deliberately or not. A murder investigation has been launched, and the mother is receiving treatment post-delivery.
