A tragic investigation is unfolding in Kingsville, Texas, after a newborn baby was found dead inside a Walmart trash can — and the teen mother’s father has now been arrested.
Authorities say the infant was discovered shortly after 10 p.m. on Monday, July 14, when a maintenance worker alerted store staff. Employees attempted life-saving measures on the baby before first responders arrived, according to a Kingsville Police Department press release. The newborn was rushed to a nearby hospital but was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
Surveillance footage showed a teenage girl entering the Walmart and spending about 40 minutes in the restroom before exiting and getting into a vehicle. Police say the girl gave birth during that time and allegedly left the baby in a trash receptacle.
Deputies from the Kleberg County Sheriff’s Office located and stopped the vehicle in the parking lot. The 17-year-old girl was taken to the hospital for medical treatment, and her father, Jerry Lee Martinez, 45, was arrested at the scene.
Martinez has been charged with abandoning or endangering a child with criminal negligence, tampering with physical evidence, and tampering with a witness, authorities said.
The teen remains hospitalized and has not yet been questioned. Police say they will speak with her once she is medically cleared.
Celinda Tatum, an investigator with the Kingsville Police Department, urged people to call emergency services in similar situations. “The avenue taken last night wasn’t the correct one, wasn’t a safe one for the mother or the child,” she told KRIS6. “Please — contact police or medical personnel so both the baby and mother can receive the care they need.”
Authorities have not announced whether the teen will face charges, and the investigation is ongoing.
