Detectives made the discovery Wednesday at around 7 p.m. Wednesday in a trash bin behind Sombrero's Mexican restaurant on Katella Avenue, near Knott Avenue, after receiving information from a hospital and another police department after the 19-year-old mother sought medical treatment.
"Her statements were inconsistent as to what the doctors were seeing as to what happened to her," said Amormino. "She denied giving birth but the doctors knew that what she was seeking treatment for was actual childbirth, but there was no baby."
Neighbors grieved for a baby girl they never got to meet.
"There's people out there trying to have a baby, like me. I want a baby, and if I would have met this person and known she was going to do something like that I would have asked her for the baby," said Stanton resident Brenda Ortega.
"It's Christmas. You'd would think that you would have a little heart and take it somewhere where someone else can love it as much as it needs to be loved," said Stanton resident Bill Van Hook.
Investigators say the baby was alive when her mother gave birth to her in the restroom of the restaurant. Authorities allege that the baby was soon after dumped in the garbage bin right outside. The teenage mother now faces a charge of murder.
Authorities did not immediately disclose how the infant died, or who discovered the body, or its gender or race, or when an autopsy would take place.
The Orange County Sheriff's Department was handling the investigation. Detectives spent hours at the scene searching for evidence Wednesday night.
People in the area were stunned to hear that someone would leave a baby's body in the trash.
"We walk through here every day so I'm surprised you know that this even happened because this is a real trafficking area. And I thought maybe somebody got hit by a car or something, but this is really pretty sad to be that close to home," said Stanton resident Greg Sinsun.
Under /*California's Safe Surrender Baby Law*/, parents or persons with lawful custody can legally turn over an infant to fire stations and hospitals within 72 hours of the a child's birth.
Anyone with information related to this case is urged to call the Orange County Sheriff's Department (866) 847-6273.
