A 33-year-old woman in Montreal’s South Shore has been released under certain conditions regarding the death of a newborn discovered alone in a bus shelter on Monday morning. Longueuil police mentioned in a news release on Tuesday that the woman is receiving physical and psychological support and is being monitored by appropriate services. She will need to attend court if charges are pressed. The incident unfolded when the baby was found in a bus shelter near Briggs Street early Monday, still connected to the placenta, unclothed, and severely cold, as reported by the Coopérative des techniciens ambulanciers de la Montérégie, the paramedic service for Quebec’s Montérégie region. The infant was unresponsive when found, prompting resuscitation efforts until reaching the hospital, where the woman was subsequently apprehended.
Although police did not confirm the woman’s relation to the baby, they suggested the possibility of an infanticide charge. The investigation is ongoing to verify crucial aspects that will determine the appropriate charges.
While authorities have not explicitly stated that the woman is homeless, Pierre Rousseau, in charge of the nearby shelter La Halte du coin, disclosed that the woman utilized their services early that morning. Rousseau noted her arrival around 3 a.m., followed by the baby’s discovery at 6:30 a.m. He mentioned that she visited to access the warming center and dozed off in a chair, appearing normal until she rose a few hours later, raising concerns among staff. Rousseau refrained from divulging specifics due to the ongoing inquiry but confirmed sharing pertinent information with the police, who engaged with the shelter post the baby’s finding. The authorities managed the woman, but they did not confirm her link to the arrested individual related to the baby’s demise.
Recent events include another newborn discovered at a Longueuil residence’s doorstep on Bourgeoys Street, swathed in a blanket with the umbilical cord intact. Dr. Marc-Antoine Pigeon, an emergency room physician at Charles-Le Moyne Hospital, was part of the futile resuscitation efforts for the infant. In some regions like Europe, certain U.S. states, and various Canadian provinces, baby boxes or drawers are accessible as safe sites for child abandonment. Dr. Pigeon suggested the potential implementation of such measures in Quebec, emphasizing the swift attention and care such actions provide in critical circumstances.
Quebec’s Minister of Social Services, Lionel Carmant, underscored the existing support services available for individuals facing childbirth challenges, urging the utilization of resources like local CLSCs or youth protection agencies.