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| Newborn baby found dead in Perth storm water drain placed there in recent days, police say | Newborn baby found dead in Perth storm water drain placed there in recent days, police say |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| WA premier describes ‘horrifying scenario’ after workers found child’s body while cleaning drain on Monday | WA premier describes ‘horrifying scenario’ after workers found child’s body while cleaning drain on Monday |
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| A newborn baby boy found dead in a suburban storm water drain was placed there in recent days before being discovered, police have said. | A newborn baby boy found dead in a suburban storm water drain was placed there in recent days before being discovered, police have said. |
| The horrifying discovery of the infant’s body was made in Alexander Heights in Perth’s north on Monday afternoon. | The horrifying discovery of the infant’s body was made in Alexander Heights in Perth’s north on Monday afternoon. |
| Workers were clearing the drain of debris and checking for blockages when the “chance discovery” was made. | Workers were clearing the drain of debris and checking for blockages when the “chance discovery” was made. |
| “Evidence suggests it is a newborn child ... (and) that the little boy came to be in that location only in recent days,” Det Sen Sgt Stephen Cleal told reporters on Tuesday. | “Evidence suggests it is a newborn child ... (and) that the little boy came to be in that location only in recent days,” Det Sen Sgt Stephen Cleal told reporters on Tuesday. |
| There was no evidence to suggest the boy was washed through the drain, Cleal said. | There was no evidence to suggest the boy was washed through the drain, Cleal said. |
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| “What we believe is the child was placed in that drain at that location on La Salle Road in Alexander Heights,” he said. | “What we believe is the child was placed in that drain at that location on La Salle Road in Alexander Heights,” he said. |
| Homicide detectives made an urgent plea for the baby’s mother to come forward amid concerns for her health. | Homicide detectives made an urgent plea for the baby’s mother to come forward amid concerns for her health. |
| “We want to help that mother. That is our priority,” Det Sen Sgt Cleal said. | “We want to help that mother. That is our priority,” Det Sen Sgt Cleal said. |
| Investigators are working with hospitals and medical centres in a bid to find the child’s mother. | Investigators are working with hospitals and medical centres in a bid to find the child’s mother. |
| They also searched bushland adjacent to La Salle Road and conducted a forensic examination at the scene, including inside the storm water drain. | They also searched bushland adjacent to La Salle Road and conducted a forensic examination at the scene, including inside the storm water drain. |
| “This is a highly distressing and confronting situation for the community ... in that I include the two workmen that come across this shocking and confronting scene,” Det Sen Sgt Cleal said. | “This is a highly distressing and confronting situation for the community ... in that I include the two workmen that come across this shocking and confronting scene,” Det Sen Sgt Cleal said. |
| “We are working with them and my heart goes out to those two.” | “We are working with them and my heart goes out to those two.” |
| Earlier, the Western Australia premier, Roger Cook, said the discovery of the child’s body was a “horrifying scenario”. | Earlier, the Western Australia premier, Roger Cook, said the discovery of the child’s body was a “horrifying scenario”. |
| “The mother of that child must be incredibly distressed,” he told reporters on Tuesday. | “The mother of that child must be incredibly distressed,” he told reporters on Tuesday. |
| “Those workers that discovered the child’s body were confronted with the most distressing of circumstances,” he said. | “Those workers that discovered the child’s body were confronted with the most distressing of circumstances,” he said. |
| “My heart goes out to everyone involved in this horrible, horrible series of events. | “My heart goes out to everyone involved in this horrible, horrible series of events. |
| “This goes to the heart of everyone’s sense of humanity, a small child whose life has passed under tragic circumstances.” | “This goes to the heart of everyone’s sense of humanity, a small child whose life has passed under tragic circumstances.” |
| WA police confirmed the investigation into the grim discovery remained ongoing. | WA police confirmed the investigation into the grim discovery remained ongoing. |
| Anyone with information has been urged to contact police. | Anyone with information has been urged to contact police. |
| This article was amended on 19 August 2025. The WA premier had earlier indicated the body was that of a baby girl and had been in the drain for two weeks. Police later clarified that the child was a boy, and they believe he was placed in the drain in recent days. |