Baby found in dumpster was prepared for burial

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - 24-Hour News 8 uncovered exclusive new details regarding the investigation of a baby’s body found in a Dumpster over four months ago.

A couple scrounging for scrap metal found an infant in a Dumpster on October 5.

The Dumpster is long gone from the parking lot in the 2300 block of North Illinois Street.

But the case remains open and referred to a Marion County Grand Jury.

The tiny body bag has been in the Marion County morgue for months.

The Marion County Chief Deputy Coroner Alfarena Ballew said the body was already in the process of decomposing and may have gone through the process of embalming.

She said it’s been difficult to make a positive identification of the infant’s decedent.

Ballew is still waiting for the final analysis from the DNA lab.

"We are going to look at that and find out what the difficulties were, what the challenges were in sort of extracting the DNA and making some sort of analysis," said Ballew.

Ballew also confirms the Marion County Coroner's Office is working with Grand Jury investigators on the case.

In Marion County, a six person Grand Jury convenes every three months to determine whether sufficient facts and evidence exist to file charges. It's a highly secretive process by law. While the baby found in a Dumpster is the subject of the investigation, it’s not clear who is the target of the investigation.

24-Hour News 8 asked but investigators and the prosecutor won't release that information.