A newborn baby has died after an 18-year-old American tourist allegedly threw the infant out of the window of a hotel in Paris.
In a translated statement obtained by PEOPLE, the Paris prosecutor's office confirmed the baby's death and said the newborn was "allegedly thrown out of the window of the 2nd floor of a hotel in the 20th arrondissement," on Monday, Feb. 24.
"The duty magistrate went to the scene. The newborn was treated urgently but did not survive," the statement continued. The prosecutor's office added that an investigation has been opened for a "homicide" of a minor.
"The mother, an American national, is part of a group of young adults traveling in Europe. She was taken to hospital where she is to undergo an operation following her delivery. She is also taken into custody on site. The possibility of denial of pregnancy is considered," the statement concluded.
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On February 24 at around 6 am local time, a witness alerted authorities that an infant had been thrown from an Ibis Styles hotel "with the umbilical cord,” according to local news outlet Le Parisien.
The infant was taken to the Robert-Debré hospital, located in the 19th arrondissement. The outlet added that the mother was an 18-year-old student.
Local media outlet Le Figaro reported the young woman was placed in police custody "on the spot."
According to Paris Match, the newborn's mother was reportedly on a study trip to Paris and accompanied by other American students.
"The investigation is underway and the precise circumstances of this tragedy remain to be established," a person close to the case told the outlet. "We do not yet know if we are dealing with a denial of pregnancy."
