This article was updated at 4:20 p.m.
The location was a waste container on Kundratstrasse. The arrested mother of the infant, who was only around a week old, is now being investigated on suspicion of murder, the police announced on Friday afternoon.
The baby disappeared from the hospital’s neonatal ward shortly before noon on Thursday. A nurse noticed this and raised the alarm. A large-scale search operation at night, including dogs and a drone, initially yielded no findings. The Vienna Health Association (WIGEV) pointed out on Thursday that there was no free access to the ward.
Not least because of this, suspicion may have initially focused on the immediate family environment and especially on the mother. The 30-year-old Austrian citizen was also questioned that night and may have ultimately told investigators where her child could be found.
According to police spokeswoman Anna Gutt, the girl’s body was found around 10 a.m. When the woman was questioned, there were indications that the infant could be found outside the hospital premises. This was already likely on Thursday because the search of the hospital grounds yielded no evidence of the baby. After the overnight interruption, the police started searching the area around the clinic, which ultimately led to the dead child.
Investigators ruled out kidnapping from the start
From the outset, investigators ruled out the possibility of the baby being kidnapped. This was due not least to the security measures in the hospital, which means that it is hardly possible for people outside the hospital to gain access to the ward. So far there is no confirmation from the police that the woman has explicitly admitted to dumping her daughter. She is still under strong suspicion of murder. The investigators tend to rule out the possibility that Section 79 – killing a child at birth – may also be a possibility. The paragraph reads: “A mother who kills the child during birth or while she is still under the influence of the birth process shall be punished with imprisonment of six months to five years.”
The cause of death was also unclear on Friday morning. The baby is undergoing an autopsy and the results are not expected to be available until the next few days. Around two hours after the body was found, the crime scene investigators from the State Criminal Police Office were still busy working on clues. The location on Kundratstrasse was cordoned off for eleven car lengths.
Concern for the hospital and hospital operator
The employees of the Favoriten Clinic and the Vienna Health Association (WIGEV) reacted with concern: “Unfortunately, today we had to learn that the missing baby was found dead outside the Favoriten Clinic. The police investigation into the background to the crime is still ongoing. What happened “Our employees who actively supported the police in the search are all deeply affected. They will receive psychological support if necessary,” said Michaela Riegler-Keil. Medical director of the clinic.
