Woman Arrested After Dead Newborn Found in Amazon Warehouse

A 22-year-old woman has been arrested after her newborn baby was found dead in a Phoenix, Arizona Amazon warehouse bathroom, AZ Central reports.

The baby, who was reportedly full-term and dead upon discovery, was found last week. Samantha Vivier told investigators she went to use the restroom after clocking out for lunch where she began bleeding, ultimately giving birth to a baby she says wasn’t breathing or moving. After staying in the stall for an “extended period of time” she put the baby in a bag in the trashcan and went home. Viver says she did not know she was pregnant at the time, having not had regular doctors appointments or feeling a baby inside her.

While it’s not unbelievable that Vivier might not know she was pregnant, it’s worth pointing out how difficult it is to get an abortion in Arizona even if you do know you’re pregnant. The state has limited abortion access and annoying laws for women who want to obtain one, including mandatory state-directed counseling and a 24 hour wait period before the procedure.

Arizona also has a Safe Haven law, which means that mothers can anonymously give up their babies at different locations without fear of arrest, but it doesn’t mean all women feel they can use it. Last year a newborn baby was found abandoned on a changing table at an Arizona airport with a note that read “my mom had no idea she was pregnant, she is unable and unfit to take care of me,” and the year before that a newborn was found abandoned in a grocery store parking lot in the state.

Amazon said in a statement to AZ Central, “This is a terribly sad and tragic incident and we’re providing on-site counseling support as needed as the safety and wellness of our team continues to be our top priority.”