Premature, little boy found abandoned in a zipped suitcase in Texas

A premature baby of only a few hours was found alive in a zippered suitcase next to a garbage compactor, police said in Texas.

A woman living at the Monterra Pointe apartments found her baby on Saturday before 8:15 am, according to the Fort Worth KXAS, and the authorities are now looking for the newborn's mother.

Det. Arlington police spokesman Morgan Speer said at a press conference Tuesday that the woman had told detectives that she had heard what looked like a crying baby and had seen a small black suitcase near the trash compactor. When the woman cleared the suitcase, the little boy was inside with his umbilical cord and placenta still attached, said Speer.

The baby was taken to the hospital for treatment. The nurses stated that the newborn was cold when he arrived and that he had no "visible sign" of injury.

Speer said the hospital staff had informed the investigators that the baby weighed 4 pounds and 12 ounces and that it was premature between four and six weeks. He was about two hours old when he was found and had to be put on oxygen, but his nurses slowly removed him.

"This baby was very happy, everyone is happy to be alive today," she told reporters.

According to Speer, a maintenance agent at the compound usually places garbage left outside in the garbage compactor but the day the baby was found, he was late.

The authorities said that they were still trying to locate the baby's mother, whom the police named Jason. Speer said that they want to talk with the mother to make sure she is safe.

Police and detectives surveyed the apartment complex and spoke to "almost all residents," said Speer. The local hospital and emergency clinics were also notified and asked to look for a future mother who needed medical attention. Speer did not say if the mother could face charges.

"At the moment, our main concern is that we do not know the safety of the mother, we do not know if she's okay, we do not know where she is," Speer said. "Our other concern is that without a mother, without a family, we do not know the medical history of the victim, the baby."

Authorities hope that by posting photos of the suitcase and scarf found inside, someone will recognize it. Baggage is being examined for fingerprints and other possible evidence.

The child protection services met a judge to give him custody of his baby while he was hospitalized. Once released, baby Jason will go to a foster family, according to Speer.