A tragic discovery at a hospital in Gran Canaria has led to the arrest of a woman after the body of a newborn baby was found abandoned in a toilet. The incident, which has shocked local authorities, occurred at the San Roque Meloneras Hospital in the municipality of San Bartolomé de Tirajana.
Discovery and Immediate Response
The lifeless infant was found by a staff member at approximately 9:20am on Sunday morning. Reports indicate the baby was wrapped in paper, covered in blood, and left on the premises. Hospital management and security were alerted immediately, who then contacted the National Police.
Officers from the Scientific Police and the Judicial Police based in Maspalomas swiftly attended the scene. They cordoned off the area and began a forensic examination while also reviewing security camera footage from the hospital.
Identification and Arrest of the Mother
Thanks to CCTV analysis, police identified a 31-year-old Spanish woman who had entered the bathroom around the time the birth is believed to have occurred. She was located shortly afterwards at a bus shelter near the hospital entrance, still wearing blood-stained clothing.
The woman was arrested on suspicion of abandoning a minor. Police sources have suggested she may have issues with drug addiction, though this remains part of the ongoing investigation and is unconfirmed.
Mother's Statement and Alleged Return to Hospital
In her initial statement to officers, the woman claimed she was unaware of her pregnancy, despite being near full term. She stated she had visited the hospital the previous evening, Saturday, at around 8:30pm feeling unwell.
She alleged she then gave birth alone in a toilet without seeking any medical help. The woman told police the baby was born alive and cried before she wrapped it and left the bathroom. She then exited the hospital without informing anyone.
Disturbingly, it is reported the woman returned to the hospital on Sunday morning, allegedly to check if the newborn had been discovered. It was during this time that the baby's body was found by staff, leading directly to her arrest.
Ongoing Investigation and Aftermath
Following her detention, the 31-year-old was transferred to the Gran Canaria Maternity and Children’s Hospital, where she remains in police custody while recovering from the birth. Authorities confirmed she had not been admitted to the hospital prior to the incident and had sought no prenatal care.
The investigation continues as police work to verify the woman's account and establish the precise circumstances of the birth and the cause of the infant's death. The baby's body has been sent to the Forensic Anatomical Institute for a post-mortem examination.
