A 19-year-old university student in Taipei has reportedly given birth to a baby boy at home, only for the newborn to later be found dead and concealed inside her bedroom for several days.
The incident came to light after the young woman and her parents went to a police station on Saturday (Aug 8) to report the case. Authorities in Taipei’s Wenshan District are now investigating the circumstances surrounding the baby’s death.
According to Taiwanese media reports, prosecutors have questioned the student and reportedly believe there is sufficient suspicion of criminal involvement to warrant further investigation. An application to detain her was made, but the court did not approve the request.
Student reportedly gave birth without medical assistance
Police investigations reportedly found that the student had remained enrolled at university and came from an ordinary family. Her parents were said to have had limited interaction with her, while she allegedly did not seek medical attention or attend any prenatal check-ups during her pregnancy.
Authorities reportedly found no record of her visiting a hospital for pregnancy-related care.
The student is also said to have gone through the delivery without medical assistance at home. She reportedly told investigators that she gave birth to a baby boy and later realised that he was no longer breathing.
She allegedly became overwhelmed and did not know what to do after the baby’s death.
Parents reportedly discovered the situation after several days
According to the student’s account, she wrapped the baby’s body in a towel and placed it on top of a storage cabinet in her bedroom.
The remains reportedly remained there for around five days.
The situation was eventually discovered after her parents noticed an unusual odour coming from the room. The condition of the remains had reportedly deteriorated by then, prompting the family to seek help from the authorities.
The student subsequently went to the police station together with her parents to report what had happened.
Authorities investigating circumstances surrounding baby’s death
Prosecutors reportedly examined the baby’s remains on Sunday (Aug 9), but were unable to determine the exact cause of death at the time.
Investigators are therefore expected to rely on further forensic examination and other evidence to establish what happened before and after the birth.
Following questioning, prosecutors reportedly considered the student to be under significant suspicion of a serious offence and expressed concerns that evidence could potentially be destroyed or concealed.
They therefore sought a detention order from the court, but the application was rejected.
The case remains under investigation, and the precise circumstances surrounding the baby’s death have yet to be established.
Authorities will need to determine whether the newborn died shortly after birth from natural or medical causes, or whether there were other circumstances involved.
The student’s account that the baby had stopped breathing is also expected to be examined against forensic findings and other evidence collected during the investigation.
As the investigation continues, prosecutors are expected to await the results of the forensic examination before deciding on the next steps in the case.