Fort Worth, Texas — A Texas woman is facing a capital murder charge, while her boyfriend faces an abuse-of-a-corpse charge, after a newborn baby girl was found dead in a bag near a motel dumpster in Fort Worth, according to police and court documents.
The investigation began on Sunday, October 18, when a woman searching through a dumpster reportedly discovered the deceased infant outside the Drummers Inn, a budget motel on Camp Bowie Boulevard in the Western Hills neighborhood.
Authorities allege the baby had been born inside the motel room several days earlier and that her body remained in a bag for four days before the woman’s boyfriend disposed of it.
Newborn Found in Bag Outside Fort Worth Motel
Fort Worth police responded at approximately 8:30 p.m. after receiving reports that a bag containing a deceased baby girl had been found near the dumpster.
According to an arrest affidavit obtained by local media, investigators believed the infant had been dead for multiple days when she was discovered.
A security camera pointed toward the dumpster was reportedly not working at the time, complicating efforts to determine exactly when the bag was placed there. Police continued collecting evidence at the scene and sought information from the public.
One motel guest who spoke with WFAA expressed shock over the discovery and questioned why the baby had been discarded rather than taken to a hospital.
The discovery prompted investigators to examine the circumstances surrounding the infant’s birth and death, as well as the events that allegedly followed.
Welfare Check Led Police to the Mother
The following day, investigators received a request for a welfare check on 23-year-old Avia Cantrell from her sister.
According to police records, the sister told authorities that Cantrell was pregnant and nearing her due date. She also reportedly expressed concern because Cantrell had a history of pregnancies and childbirths that were not disclosed or attended by medical professionals.
The sister feared the baby found at the motel might belong to Cantrell, according to the records.
Officers subsequently went to Room 205 at the Drummers Inn, where Cantrell had reportedly been living with her boyfriend, 26-year-old Camron Baker, and three children for more than two years.
During an interview with detectives, Cantrell allegedly described giving birth to the baby girl in the room’s bathtub.
What Police Say Happened After the Birth
According to the charging documents, Cantrell told investigators the baby was full-term and that she left the infant face down in the bathtub water for approximately 30 minutes.
She allegedly said she contacted Baker while he was at work to tell him she had given birth. By the time he arrived, the baby was dead, according to her account as described by police.
Investigators allege the couple did not seek medical assistance after Baker returned to the motel. According to the affidavit, Baker told police they had not called for help because they did not want to “catch a case.”
Authorities further allege that the baby’s body was placed in a bag and kept near the bathroom toilet for four days while the couple decided what to do.
Baker reportedly told investigators he eventually placed the infant in a brown bag with a flower pattern and threw it into the motel dumpster.
These details come from police accounts and charging documents. The allegations have not all been established in court.
Charges Against Cantrell and Baker
Cantrell has been charged with one count of capital murder of a person under 10 years of age, according to the Fort Worth Police Department.
She is being held in the Tarrant County Jail without bond, based on the information provided in the report.
Baker faces one count of abuse of a corpse in connection with the alleged disposal of the infant’s body. He was not listed as an inmate in the jail records cited by the original report at the time it was published.
The charges reflect different allegations against the two defendants. Investigators’ accounts of the incident form part of the case, and the allegations must be addressed through the legal process.
Investigation Into the Newborn’s Death
The investigation has focused on the circumstances of the baby’s birth, the events leading to her death and the alleged decision not to seek medical assistance.
Police also sought information from the public as they gathered evidence related to the discovery outside the motel.
The case has raised serious questions about what happened inside the room before the infant was found. Further details about the investigation and any subsequent court proceedings may clarify the evidence supporting the charges.
For now, the allegations against Cantrell and Baker remain subject to the legal process, and both defendants are entitled to the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty.
What are your thoughts on this case and the importance of seeking emergency medical help when a newborn is in danger? Share your views respectfully in the comments below.
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