The decomposed body of a baby is found in a Long Beach alley

The decomposed body of an infant was found covered by debris and cardboard Tuesday afternoon in a Long Beach alleyway, police said.

Residents walking in the alley near 67th Street and Gardenia Avenue saw the child’s body about 4:20 p.m. and initially thought it had burned because it appeared to be charred, Long Beach Police Det. Claudia Lopez said.

The fire department responded and determined there was no fire. The infant’s appearance owed to the state of its decomposition, Lopez said.

Investigators have not determined the child’s sex, age or identity. It’s unclear how long the body was at the location or how the child died.

“It’s still very early in the investigation,” Lopez said.

In the alley and the surrounding area, which is located near an offramp for the 91 Freeway, investigators were collecting evidence into the night.

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