A 33-year-old woman in Montreal’s South Shore has been released from custody under specific conditions relating to the discovery of a deceased newborn in a bus shelter. Longueuil police announced in a news release that the woman is receiving physical and psychological support and remains under appropriate care. She may face court proceedings if charges are brought against her.
Authorities found the baby in a bus shelter on Chambly Road near Briggs Street early Monday morning. The infant, still attached to the placenta, was uncovered and severely cold, as reported by the Coopérative des techniciens ambulanciers de la Montérégie, the paramedic service for the Montérégie region in Quebec. The baby was unresponsive when found, prompting immediate resuscitation efforts until being transported to the hospital. The woman was subsequently taken into custody.
While police did not confirm the woman’s relationship to the baby, they hinted at the possibility of pursuing an infanticide charge. The investigation is ongoing to ascertain the appropriate charges in the case.
Although not officially identified as homeless by authorities, a local shelter, La Halte du coin, confirmed that the woman availed their services early on the day of the incident. The shelter’s director, Pierre Rousseau, mentioned the woman arriving around 3 a.m. and using their warming center before dozing off in a chair. Rousseau noted that her behavior seemed normal until she abruptly left the chair hours later, prompting staff to notice something unusual. Details concerning the observations were shared with the police following the discovery of the baby nearby.
This incident follows another recent case in Longueuil where a newborn was found on a doorstep wrapped in a blanket with the umbilical cord intact. Efforts to revive the infant at Charles-Le Moyne Hospital were unfortunately unsuccessful. In some regions, including Europe, selected U.S. states, and certain Canadian provinces, baby boxes or drawers are accessible as secure locations for individuals considering abandoning a child.
When asked about the potential implementation of baby boxes in Quebec, Dr. Marc-Antoine Pigeon, an emergency room physician, highlighted the significance of providing swift attention and care to infants in distress. Quebec’s Minister of Social Services, Lionel Carmant, emphasized existing support services available for individuals facing similar situations, encouraging seeking help through avenues like local CLSCs or youth protection services.
