Newborn Boy Tossed Into Trash Compactor, Rescued on Good Friday In Washington

Newborn Found in Washington
Washington woman, Paula Andrews, thought she heard a baby's cry from a dumpster, and when she got into the dumpster and dug down, she found a newborn boy, still with its umbilical cord.  Q13 Fox News screen shot

When Paula Andrews went to throw garbage into a massive trash compactor at her Everett, Wash., apartment complex last Friday, she heard faint, muffled baby sounds. Hoping the cries were being produced by a doll, she dug down through two feet of garbage - only to find a real, newborn baby boy who had been discarded to die in the compactor.

Andrews, who works as a maintenance supervisor at the complex, said after she made the decision to go inside the trash compactor and begin digging, there was no getting out until she had an answer, reports The Washington Post.

"She must have gone through about 2½ feet of garbage, probably about 20 garbage bags, and discovers this brand new, newborn child there," her boyfriend, Jeff Meyers, told NBC affiliate KING. "She kind of jumped out of the garbage compactor, went to her knees crying and said, 'I can't believe it's a real baby. I can't believe somebody had done this.'"

Meyers told CBS affiliate KUTV the situation could have turned out much differently.

"I mean, thank God Paula didn't hit that button; I mean, had that baby not cried one second before she hit that button, we'd be out here for a much worse story," he said, noting that the child was covered in blood and still had its umbilical cord attached.

Officers arrived at the scene moments later and removed the baby from the dumpster, according to police. The baby, a boy, was rushed to a hospital on Friday night. The infant remains in stable condition and police are investigating the incident.

"There is no indication when or why the newborn was left in the dumpster," Officer Aaron Snell, a public information officer with the Everett Police Department, told The Washington Post. He said investigators plan to submit evidence to the Washington State Patrol's crime laboratory to match the child's DNA samples to his mother.

"If someone has been entered into the system, a match could potentially come up," he said.

Officials pointed out this outcome didn't need to occur. In Washington state, a safe haven law gives new mothers 72 hours to leave a newborn baby at a fire station or emergency room with no questions asked, and no charges filed.

Regardless of where the baby came from, Meyers said he considers the infant's arrival a thing of beauty. "We feel it's a miracle. It happened on Good Friday. I get emotional. I get emotional when I talk about it."

    Most Popular
  • Is 'The Last Supper' worth watching? Audience and critics weigh in

    Is 'The Last Supper' worth watching? Audience and critics weigh in

    Faith-based films often receive mixed reactions, and The Last Supper is no exception. The movie attempts to bring a fresh perspective to one of the most iconic moments in Christian history, but does it succeed? Some reviews from critics and audiences provide insight into its strengths and shortcomings.

  • ‘The Chosen’ Season 5: The darkest season yet—What to know before watching

    The wait is over—The Chosen is back with its fifth season, and this time, things are getting intense. The new episodes dive straight into the final days of Jesus’ life, covering some of the most emotional and dramatic moments in the Bible. If you’ve been following the series, you already know that The Chosen isn’t just about retelling familiar stories—it’s about bringing them to life in a way that feels real.

  • Massacres in Syria: Over 1,000 dead, including Christians and Alawites

    Syria’s coastal regions have been devastated by a series of massacres, with reports indicating that over 1,000 people—many from Christian and Alawite communities—have been killed in brutal attacks. Entire families have been wiped out, and survivors are fleeing in search of safety as sectarian violence escalates.

  • Kim Sae-ron and Wheesung: The tragic irony of Korean society and the principles of happiness

    Not long ago, the media was in an uproar over actress Kim Sae-ron’s passing. Just months before, the same people who had relentlessly criticized her for her DUI incident were now expressing sympathy, saying, "The world was too harsh on her." The irony is impossible to ignore.

  • Newsboys move forward as a quartet after Michael Tait’s departure

    After more than a decade as the lead singer of the Newsboys, Michael Tait has officially parted ways with the band, marking a significant shift in the Christian rock group’s lineup. The remaining members—Jeff Frankenstein, Jody Davis, Duncan Phillips, and Adam Agee—have assured fans that they will continue forward, embracing a new season of music and ministry.