More disturbing details have emerged after a US teen was arrested for allegedly "throwing" a newborn baby out of a hotel window.
As previously reported, a newborn baby - with the umbilical cord reportedly still attached, - tragically died after allegedly being thrown from a second-floor hotel window in Paris, France.
The horrifying event unfolded around 6:00AM on Monday (February 24) at an Ibis Styles hotel in Porte de Montreuil, located in eastern Paris’ 20th district.
Despite being rushed to Robert Debré Hospital, the infant succumbed to severe injuries and was pronounced dead at 7:45AM local time.
It's been reported that the alleged mother is an 18-year-old American student who was traveling through EF Gap Year - a Cambridge, Massachusetts-based program that offers 18- to 22-year-olds the chance to study and travel abroad, per The Independent.
After the horrific incident, the young woman was taken to a different hospital, where she underwent an operation following the birth. She was then placed in police custody for questioning.
EF Gap Year spokesperson Adam Bickelman released a statement about the tragedy, which read: “We are deeply shocked and saddened by this tragic event, and our thoughts are with everyone affected during this difficult time... Counseling support has been offered to all group members, and we are extending our support to the impacted families.”
A statement from the Paris prosecutor’s office, provided to several media outlets, confirmed that the juvenile protection brigade is handling the case under charges of homicide of a minor under 15.
“The newborn was treated urgently but did not survive. The juvenile protection brigade was tasked with the investigation into the homicide of a minor under the age of 15," they said.
According to local reports, residents called authorities after hearing terrified screams from passersby just after 6:00AM.
A witness described the terrifying scene to The Times: “The baby had already been taken away but the police were still there. It’s difficult to believe that this happened here. No one knows if the mother did it deliberately or not, and everyone is shaken. It’s like a nightmare, something you never want to see, especially not in your own street.”
Another local resident, Maria, told CNN: “There were police cars and ambulances. We thought it might be gang-related, but when we learned what had happened, we were devastated. I’ve lived here for over 30 years, and it’s a quiet neighborhood with very few tourists. It’s so sad.”
Investigators are now exploring whether the teen may have been suffering from pregnancy denial, a psychological condition where a woman remains unaware of or refuses to acknowledge her pregnancy, CBS News reported.
Authorities are now awaiting forensic and psychological evaluations to better understand what led to this tragic incident.
Officials have not yet confirmed whether the young woman had shown any visible signs of pregnancy before the event or if any of her travel companions were aware of her condition. It also remains unclear whether she acted alone or if others were involved.
The U.S. Embassy in Paris addressed the case in a statement to The Independent, which read: “We are deeply saddened to learn of the recent tragedy involving the loss of a young life."
"We are aware of reports of the arrest of a U.S. citizen in France and are closely monitoring this case," they added.