Dead baby girl found in garbage

A medical exam of Figueroa showed that she had likely given birth to a full-term infant and staff called the police. Detectives went to Figueroa’s apartment in the 600 block of Buckey Street in Redwood City and found the dead newborn in the dumpster.

Figueroa then admitted she had concealed her pregnancy and secretly gave birth at home Tuesday. She said the baby was dead at birth and she placed it in the dumpster.

The baby girl recovered was fully-developed and an autopsy to determine the cause of death turned up no overt signs of trauma, said Coroner Robert Foucrault.

The Coroner’s Office is still awaiting toxicology reports which will take a few weeks. Foucrault did not say whether the child could have died from exposure or if there was air in the lungs.

Whether the baby was born alive will determine if Figueroa will be charged with any crime, ranging from disposal of human remains up to murder. If prosecutors do charge her, she will appear in court this afternoon.

In March, the county Board of Supervisors unanimously adopted an ordinance adding 56 fire stations to the list of "safe havens” where live babies can be dropped off without question. The state passed the Safe Arms for Newborns law in January 2001 to prevent babies from being killed or left by parents who do not want them.

Although San Mateo County has not had many instances of abandoned newborns, the Peninsula is far from immune. In July 2004, a dead baby was found in a Palo Alto apartment and another was dumped behind the Palo Alto Days Inn by a 22-year-old maid who gave birth.

Michelle Durand can be reached by e-mail: michelle@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 102. What do you think of this story? Send a letter to the editor: letters@smdailyjournal.com.<