Decomposing body of baby found in Long Beach alley

LONG BEACH, Calif. (KABC) -- The decomposing body of a baby was found in a Long Beach alley on Tuesday, according to police.

The body, surrounded by a cardboard box and debris, was found by teenage boys walking home from school at about 4:22 p.m. in the area of E. 67th Street and Gardenia Avenue, officials said.

One of the teens, 13-year-old Miguel Ramirez, said the body looked as if it was burned.

"Its hands were not OK, and its feet looked like they were very burned," he described.

But police stated the body was not burned, but badly decomposed.

"The body was not burned, but is in a state of decomposition that would give it that appearance," explained Sgt. Brad Johnson with the Long Beach Police Department.

Investigators said they do not know how long the body was there or the gender of the child.

Ramirez said he saw duct tape on the body, but officials could not confirm this information.

Police said they have not determined if foul play was involved in the death of the baby. Investigators will have to rely on an autopsy for possible answers.

Neighbors said there was a homeless couple living in the area recently.

"We do get a lot of homeless people around here, you know, I'd say maybe drug addicts around here, too," said area resident Blossom Castaned. "It's pretty common, sadly."

Others said the homeless problem is out if control with several different camp all along 67th Street.

Authorities towed away an SUV from the scene Tuesday night, but the car's connection, if any, to the case was not known.