An Alabama woman is in custody after her newborn’s body was found in a dumpster behind a supermarket.
Nicole Crow, 36, was taken into custody in Dectaur following the discovery Wednesday and is now being held on $200,000 bond.
She is charged with one count of abuse of a corpse in connection with the incident, which police reportedly became aware of after a call from a concerned family member.
The relative reportedly told authorities that the suspect was eight months pregnant, but expressed the belief that she had already given birth and expressed concern about the newborn’s whereabouts.
A news release from Decatur police detailed the alleged chain of events, which has since launched a full-scale investigation. In it, police officers showed a photo of the defendant and at the same time emphasized: “The above-mentioned defendant is considered innocent until proven guilty.”
Nicole Crow, 36, was taken into custody in Dectaur following the discovery Wednesday and is now being held on $200,000 bond.
The toddler, police said, was “stuffed into the bottom of the dumpster underneath several other large garbage bags” at that supermarket, a mile from Crow’s home. Two days later she was arrested for abuse of a corpse
The statement provided by the department on Thursday said: “On October 16, 2023, Decatur Police Department officers were contacted and asked to check on the welfare of 36-year-old Cindy Nicole Crow.”
‘[She] “She was believed to have recently given birth,” officials added.
Based on the information provided, members of the department’s Criminal Investigation Division took over the investigation and ultimately determined that Crow had been pregnant as early as February 2023.
The officers’ investigation also revealed that the defendant had “recently given birth” – but the statement did not specify where the lawyers had secured this information.
Police added that the newborn was missing at the time – a discovery that led them to continue their investigation.
“As the investigation continued,” troopers wrote, “information was received that the dumpster on the property of the Wally World Mini Mart, located at 2505 Point Mallard Drive… needed to be searched.”
Officers went to the supermarket and began searching the dumpster. There they found a garbage bag containing the newborn girl’s body.
Investigators determined that the deceased toddler was “stowed in the bottom of the dumpster among several other large trash bags.”
The body was then taken to the Alabama Department of Forensic Science for an autopsy, troopers said. They gathered more evidence to arrest Crow and obtained a felony warrant.
On Wednesday – two days after the discovery – cops revealed that Crow was immediately located at her home in Decatur, just a mile from the convenience store, and was taken into custody by investigators.
“As the investigation continued,” troopers wrote, “information was received that the dumpster on the property of the Wally World Mini Mart, located at 2505 Point Mallard Drive… needed to be searched.”
Officers went to the supermarket and began searching the dumpster. There they found a garbage bag containing the newborn’s body. One of Crow’s sisters reportedly tipped them off after finding a bunch of damned feminine products
The woman was then taken to the Morgan County Jail and charged with abuse of a corpse. Police are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the child’s death.
However, the offense already punishable by up to 10 years in prison was enough for officials to demand $200,000 for Crow’s temporary release.
The department did not confirm that the case is being treated as a homicide, but stressed that the investigation into Crow and her child’s death is ongoing – and that “further criminal charges are likely to be filed as more evidence becomes available.”
Police said they are still waiting for the final results of the infant’s autopsy, which is being conducted by the Alabama Department of Forensic Science.
Meanwhile, reports from local station WAFF-48 said police were alerted to the incident by Crow’s sister, who reportedly stated that Crow found a large white trash bag in the back floorboard of the house as she left her home on Monday noticed the car she was driving.
The family member told the station that she tried to get a look at the bag before being pushed away by Crow, who then made his way to her aunt’s house.
Police are currently investigating the child’s death while Crow remains in custody. As of Sunday, records show she had not yet posted bail, which is currently set at $200,000
While Crow was away, her sister said she went through the trash and quickly discovered a number of damned feminine products, which further increased her suspicions.
When she arrived at her aunt’s house, she told WAFF that she noticed the trash bag was no longer in the car – which prompted her to call the authorities.
Police are currently investigating the child’s death while Crow remains in custody. Records show she had not posted bail as of Sunday.