Newborn baby found dead in Queens trash can, authorities say

The body of a newborn infant was found buried in a trash can near a Queens playground on Saturday morning, authorities said.

The baby was discovered by a passer-by in a green trash receptacle that was about 200 feet from Dutch Kills playground on Crescent Street in Long Island City about 10:48 a.m., police said.

First responders arrived at the scene and took the newborn to NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst where doctors pronounced the baby dead, police said.

Investigators believe the baby, whose umbilical chord and placenta was still attached, had been dead for at least six hours when the body was discovered, according to a law enforcement official. The discovery happened after witnesses reported a foul smell coming from the trash can, the official said.

Police are still investigating.