Baby Found In Dumpster: Child Discovered In Refuse-Filled Trash Bag By These South Carolina Teens

“Baby in dumpster” stories are all too common in the world, it seems. Usually, they don’t have happy endings, but one newborn in South Carolina has beaten the odds thanks to the efforts of two teen brothers.

Nineteen-year-old Austin DeTray and his 13-year-old brother, Raymond Price (both pictured above), were taking their family’s garbage to the dumpster when they heard a “faint whimper” from one of the other bags inside.

At first, they thought it might be an injured animal of some kind, but as they furthered their investigation, they discovered a baby inside a plastic trash bag with other refuse.

The little girl’s face was pressed up against the plastic, and she was barely breathing, her umbilical cord wrapped around her neck, Austin said in comments to Carolina Live. He also noted that there was “blood everywhere,” and that the placenta was inside the bag with the child.

Austin said the little girl is “a survivor.”

“She was fighting for it,” he added.

The boys’ mom, Jessica Price, tearfully told the news site that when the boys brought the baby in from the dumpster, she worked to clear mucus from the child’s mouth to make sure she could breathe.

Price said she was “still traumatized” from the discovery, but that she was “so proud” of her kids, who are now being referred to as heroes.

“I don’t even understand it, because me personally, I couldn’t do it,” Jessica said. “And anybody that does that, they need help. There’s something — they have no remorse, no care for anything.”

A golfer called 911 while the family worked to make sure the child was okay. Reports are indicating that she will survive, and when she’s well enough to leave the hospital, Price wants the little girl she calls “Hope” to know that she will have a home if authorities allow it.

“I would take this baby any day, I don’t care what anybody says. I will give her the loving home that she needs,” Price said.

The State website reports that the mother of the child has turned herself in to authorities. Lt. Raul Denis of the Horry County police confirmed that the woman had made the decision after seeing photos of herself on the news in conjunction with the case.

It’s not clear what she will be charged with at this time.

“It’s extremely fortunate she was found. The baby was literally in trash bags in a dumpster. It’s a miracle she was able to breathe long enough to be found,” Denis said. “It was a blessing the kids were throwing away trash and cared enough to rescue her.”

Denis also noted that the suspect has another child though details “could not be released at this time.” The baby in the dumpster is now in the care of S.C. Department of Social Services, where she will remain for the time being.

What do you think the punishment should be for people who abandon a baby in a dumpster or anywhere where there is clearly no intent for the child to be found and given a loving home? Sound off in the comments section.