How to help
Anyone with information is requested to contact the Detective Division of the Whitfield County Sheriff's Office at 706-278-3029 or the G.B.I. at 706-624-1424.
There was no pink blanket, no blue rattle. No loving hands or gentle kisses.
Instead, two employees at the Whitfield County Landfill found a deceased fetus in a plastic bag, tangled with a blanket and pair of women's blue jeans, size 5.
They made the discovery Monday while routinely sorting through a large container of recyclables, looking for the things like clothing and compost that did not belong.
The fetus is believed to be three to four months premature.
In a Tuesday news release, the Whitfield County Sheriff's Office referred to the body as an "unborn fetus," though the body was no longer in its mother. Officials declined to clarify whether the fetus was aborted or simply born prematurely.
The container where the fetus was discovered contained recyclables collected from a variety of other containers across Whitfield and Murray counties. Sheriff's office officials believe the fetus was placed in a recycling container in one of the counties before Dec. 31, which is when the containers were combined at the landfill.
The Whitfield County Sheriff's Office and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation are investigating the discovery, and the body has been taken to the GBI Crime Lab for further examination, the release stated.
Officials say they are concerned for the well-being of the mother, who may need medical attention.
Contact staff writer Kendi Anderson at kendi.anderson@timesfreepress.com or at 423-757-6592.