19-Year-Old Mother Charged with Murder After Her 4-Month-Old Daughter Is Found Dead in Los Angeles Dumpster

A heartbreaking discovery in Los Angeles has led to murder charges against a 19-year-old woman after her four-month-old daughter was found dead inside a dumpster. The infant, identified by relatives as Luna, was discovered late at night in a case that has left her family devastated and raised urgent questions about the little girl’s final hours.

Authorities said officers with the Los Angeles Police Department responded at approximately 10:30 p.m. on September 28, 2026, after receiving a report about a baby found in a trash container in the Central Alameda neighborhood of South Los Angeles. The infant was reportedly wrapped in a blanket. Emergency responders took her to a hospital, but she was pronounced dead.

Investigators identified the baby’s biological mother as Takiyah Rochelle Babers, 19. On October 1, she was charged with one count of murder and one felony count of assault on a child causing death, according to reports citing the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. Her bail was set at $2 million, and her next court hearing was scheduled for October 30. The charges are allegations, and the case remains subject to the legal process.

The discovery was made by a local resident who was taking out the trash that evening. According to reports, she noticed a dark bag inside the dumpster and initially thought she was looking at a doll. When she realized it was a baby, she and another person contacted emergency services. The call led authorities to the scene, where the infant’s death triggered a homicide investigation.

The tragedy has been especially painful for the people who had helped care for Luna. Herman Johnson and Laura Lacey, who described themselves as Babers’ foster parents, told local news outlets that they had been involved in the baby’s care. Lacey reportedly learned of Luna’s death while watching the news, recognizing the infant from the description of the clothing she had been wearing. The family said they were struggling to understand how such a devastating loss could have occurred.

Relatives later shared their grief in a fundraising appeal intended to cover Luna’s funeral and burial expenses. In their message, the family described the death as an unimaginable tragedy and said the little girl’s life had ended far too soon. A memorial also appeared near the location where she was found, as members of the community sought to honor a child who had barely begun her life.

Investigators initially said Luna’s cause of death had not been determined. Subsequent reporting by NBC Los Angeles, citing the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office, stated that the death was attributed to blunt-force trauma and classified as a homicide. Authorities have continued examining the circumstances surrounding the case as they work to establish what happened before the infant was discovered.

For now, many questions remain about Luna’s final hours and the events that led to her death. The investigation and court proceedings are expected to shed further light on the case. Meanwhile, the family is left mourning a four-month-old girl whose life was tragically cut short.

Sources:  PEOPLE