Discovery of Dead Newborn Package

[Written by Erika Waddell, based on NYTimes.com article]

(Anchor – in studio)
Police discovered the body of a baby girl early this morning in a Brooklyn apartment. Erika Waddell is live with that story. Erika –

(Live shot – on street, apartment behind)
The mood is very grim in this neighborhood as police are try to figure out exactly how this baby died. But they have confirmed finding a newborn wrapped in a garbage bag here at this Brooklyn complex earlier today.

(Signs and stuffed animals people left outside door, hospital)
VO: At about 2:15 this morning police searched the home of 20 year-old Shirley Courcelle. They were summoned by doctors at Coney Island Hospital after Courcelle came in claiming to have had a miscarriage.

(Doctor, police going in and out of hospital)
SOT: When she came in, she was bleeding very badly. She told us she had suffered a miscarriage, but we did an exam on her, and it was clear that she had in fact given birth. That’s when we called the police to investigate.

(Apartment building shots, garbage shoot/dumpster)
VO: According to police, Courcelle confessed to giving birth but said the baby had been stillborn. She told them she through the body down the garbage shoot of her apartment building.

(Police officer)
SOT: That actually turned out to be a lie. But we kept searching and eventually found the body in her closet in a dark plastic bag.

(Press conference)
VO: The medical examiner’s office has yet to confirm or deny that the baby was stillborn, but we are slowly learning more details.

(Medical examiner spokeswoman)
SOT: We now know that the baby was carried to term, and that she was born at approximately 8am. She weighed six pounds.

(Hospital entrance, photos of Courcelle)
VO: According to police, Courcelle went to the hospital alone. And we’ve since learned that no one, not even her boyfriend, knew she was pregnant. Apparently she’d been hiding in baggy clothes for months.

(Boyfriend)
SOT: She couldn’t have been in her correct state of mind. If anything, she’s for kids. That’s not what she’s about.

(Neighbor)
SOT: She’s just a regular girl. I never thought she could cause anyone any harm.

(Live shot – on street)
Police escorted Courcelle home earlier today. Prosecutors are waiting to hear if the baby was born alive before they decide how to handle the case. Reporting live from Brooklyn, Erika Waddell.