Alexander Heights baby in drain: Police launch homicide case as revealed body put in drain ‘in recent days’

Somebody knows why and how a newborn baby boy, whose tiny body was wrapped in a towel, came to be inside a stormwater drain in a northern Perth suburb. And WA detectives are urgently pleading with that person, or people, to come forward, revealing on Tuesday they have “serious concerns” for the mother of the dead infant. As the local community reeled from the horrifying, chance discovery of the baby’s body, made on Monday afternoon by two tradesmen as they cleaned drains on La Salle Road in Alexander Heights, police launched a homicide investigation into the tragedy. Locals and even those from further afield came to lay flowers and plush toys at the scene, with one father and his young daughter saying a prayer for the newborn boy who was understood to be just days old. Detectives are reviewing CCTV in the area and working with local maternity hospitals and medical centres in a desperate bid to find the baby’s mother. Homicide squad Det. Sen. Sgt Stephen Cleal said the baby had been placed in the drain “in recent days” and police were working around the clock to bring a resolution to the mystery. “There is no evidence to suggest that the little boy was washed through the drain,” he said. “What we believe is that the baby was placed in that drain.” Pathologists are working to determine the baby’s nationality, and whether he was stillborn or died after his mother gave birth. It is not clear if the infant had already died when he was placed in the drain. Det. Sen. Sgt Cleal said medical advice to police suggested that the mother of the newborn would be in distress. “We have serious health concerns for that mother. Our priority is to get her the medical help that she needs,” he said. “I just don’t know who that mother is yet, so that’s why we’re urging her to come forward, or anyone who knows anything about this to come forward and let us know,” he said. “If you are that mother, please come forward and make yourself known to police, we would love to help you. “We are also working with the hospitals, we are working with medical centres (and) I’m very grateful for the assistance they’ve given us so far.” Det. Sen. Sgt. Cleal said the tragedy was “highly distressing and confronting” for the entire WA community, in particular the first responders. “That includes two workmen that came across the shocking and confronting scene yesterday, we are working with them and my heart goes out to them,” he said. The West Australian understands the tradesmen are receiving support from their company and the City of Wanneroo. Premier Roger Cook described the tragedy as a “horrible series of events”. “This is a horrifying, horrifying scenario that from the mother of this child through to the discovery of this child’s body by those drain workers, I cannot think of a more harrowing set of circumstances for people to be confronted with,” he said. “This goes to the heart of everyone’s sense of humanity, a small child whose life has passed under tragic, tragic circumstances.” The manhole to the drain is on a grassed area next to the road and near bushland adjacent to Highview Park. One local, Sarah, who laid flowers at the scene described the incident as “heartbreaking.” “I just don’t understand how anybody could do that . . . and put such an innocent being in such a dark and scary place,” she said. “It’s just heartbreaking how this baby left the earth . . .it was someone’s child, it was someone’s grandchild, it was possibly someone’s sibling.” Another local, Cane, said the tragedy had rocked the entire community. “I’m trying to get better, I’m trying my hardest,” he said. “It does affect the community, (Alexander Heights) is a peaceful place . . . I love this place, this is the first time something like this has happened.” Det. Sen. Sgt. Cleal said officers had scoured the area around La Salle Road on Monday night and Tuesday morning. “There’s been a forensic examination at that scene, which includes inside the storm water drain, and those investigations and analysis of forensic evidence is ongoing,” he said. He said the discovery of the body happened by chance. “The tradesman were very unprepared … it was a coincidence,” he said. Two drainflow service trucks on La Salle Road — cordoned off with police tape on Monday afternoon — were driven away on Tuesday morning. La Salle Road reopened to the public on Tuesday with a small police presence still at the scene after forensic officers carried out an investigation. A City of Wanneroo spokesperson said the safety of the community was its highest priority and the city was assisting police. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via crimestopperswa.com.au. Officers are appealing to anyone with information to phone police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Lifeline 13 11 14