VIENNA — Authorities in Vienna reported that the remains of a newborn baby, who had been reported missing from a hospital’s neonatal ward, were discovered on Friday in a waste container located near the facility. The baby’s mother is now in custody as the primary suspect in the case.

Concern arose on Thursday morning when hospital staff noticed the infant’s absence from the neonatal ward. This prompted an immediate alert, leading to a comprehensive search across the hospital premises, which included both dogs and drones. Despite these extensive efforts, the initial search proved unsuccessful, and it was subsequently suspended.

After conducting an overnight interview with the mother, police decided to widen their search area. This decision led to the grim discovery of the baby’s body, identified as a girl just a few days old, early Friday morning outside the hospital’s property, as confirmed by police spokesperson Anna Gutt.

An autopsy has been mandated to ascertain the cause of the infant’s death. In connection with this tragic incident, the mother, who is in her thirties and a citizen of Austria, has been taken into custody for further investigation.