Baby found in Streamwood was strangled

A newborn baby boy found Friday in a restroom trash can at a Salvation Army store in Streamwood appeared to have been delivered alive and strangled to death at the scene, police said Saturday.

The death was ruled a homicide Saturday by the Cook County Medical Examiner's office. Detectives with the Northwest Suburban Major Case Assistance Team were searching for a Hispanic woman between 15 and 25 years old who may have been with another woman and a 2-year-old.

The baby weighed 6 pounds, 11 ounces and was 18 inches long, according to James Keegan, Streamwood deputy police chief. The newborn was discovered about 1:20 p.m. Friday in the trash bin of an employee bathroom at the Salvation Army store, 1080 S. Barrington Road, police said.

“It wasn't premature or born with a light weight. It looked like it went through a nine-month gestation,” Keegan said.

“The baby was delivered alive and strangled to its death.”

Keegan said a woman asked the store manager to use the employee bathroom in the back of the store about 10:15 a.m. Friday. The woman was in there about an hour, he added, but it wasn't until later that the baby's body was discovered. The placenta and umbilical cord were recovered at the scene, according to police.

“We believe the baby was delivered there in the bathroom and found a couple of hours later after the delivery, birth and death,” Keegan said.

Witnesses gave descriptions to a sketch artist. The woman wanted for questioning is described as being between 5 foot and 5-foot-4 inches tall, conversant in both English and Spanish with dark brown below-the-shoulder-length hair in a ponytail, police said. She was wearing a purple hooded sweatshirt, lime green coat, dark sweatpants and brown suede zipper boots. She was carrying a large purple or red purse.

“Someone knows something,” Keegan said.

The woman may have been with another woman between 40 and 45 years old, who may have had a 2-year-old girl with her, according to police.

Anyone with information can contact the Streamwood police investigations division at (630) 736-3700. A confidential tip line also is available to anonymous callers at (630) 736-3719.

Keegan said the state Abandoned Newborn Infant Protection Act allows anyone to leave a newborn baby with personnel at a fire or police station or hospital for up to 72 hours after its birth with no questions asked.