Mia McQuillin, an 18-year-old American student from Bend, Oregon, has been charged with child homicide in Paris after allegedly throwing her newborn baby out of a second-floor hotel window.
The incident occurred at the Ibis Styles Hotel in the French capital’s 20th arrondissement on Monday morning, according to the Paris prosecutor’s office.
Newborn Found on Pavement, Pronounced Dead at Hospital
Passersby discovered the newborn on the pavement outside the hotel, still wrapped in a sheet with the umbilical cord attached.
Despite emergency responders’ efforts, the baby was pronounced dead at the Robert Debré Hospital around 7:45 a.m. local time, Le Parisien reported.
Details of the Incident and ‘Pregnancy Denial’
McQuillin was on a gap year, traveling through Europe with a group of young Americans. Witnesses reportedly heard screams around 6 a.m. before noticing an open window 30 feet above where the baby was found.
Authorities are treating the case as a homicide of a minor under 15, with both the Child Protection Brigade and judicial police involved.
Investigators are also exploring the possibility of pregnancy denial, a rare psychiatric condition where a woman remains unaware of or unable to accept her pregnancy until labor.
Current Status of McQuillin
Following her arrest, McQuillin underwent a medical procedure related to childbirth and was initially held in police custody.
On Thursday, according to the Daily Mail, she was moved to a secure psychiatric unit for patients considered a danger to public safety due to potential psychiatric disorders.
Ongoing Investigation
A formal criminal inquiry into child homicide has been launched by Paris prosecutors.
The specialized child protection unit continues to gather evidence and statements to establish the full circumstances of the tragedy.
Top photos courtesy of Reuters and Jack Bussat/Bestimage via Daily Mail
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