Baby Abandoned In Storm Drain Dies

A newborn baby boy abandoned in a storm drain has died, according to DeKalb County authorities.

The baby’s teenage parents made their first court appearance Thursday night.

DeKalb County police said they found the baby abandoned in a storm drain at about 4:30 a.m. Thursday.

The discovery followed a tip from 18-year-old Sinead Harrison. Harrison told police she gave birth to the baby in a gas station restroom and then she put the baby in a dumpster near Wesley Chapel Road. Police searched the dumpster but did not find the baby.

Harrison also gave police her boyfriend's address. Police questioned the 19-year-old man, identified as Landis Moore, and he allegedly confessed that his girlfriend had given birth to their son in the house and then he had put the baby in the storm drain.

Landis Moore IM baby Landis Moore Landis Moore

Officials found the baby a short time later in a storm drain and took it to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston. Officials said the baby boy had been in the drain for "several hours" but he was initially expected to survive. He died Thursday evening.

"They located the baby inside that storm drain … I don't know how the condition was but I know that she did give birth early Thursday morning and it was placed in that storm drain and had been there for a few hours. But it was alive and it was transported," said Officer Jason Gagnon with the DeKalb County Police Department.

Baby Abandoned In Storm Drain Dies

Moore claims the baby was stillborn.

Channel 2 Action News reporter Richard Elliot talked to Moore and asked, "Police say the baby was alive when they pulled him out of the storm drain, but you say it was a miscarriage?"

"It was a miscarriage," responded Moore.

storm drain IM Storm drain where baby was found. Storm drain where baby was found

The baby's parents face child cruelty charges, but charges could be upgraded after the autopsy.