Infant body found in cardboard box in central Taiwan

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The body of an infant was discovered in a cardboard box at an abandoned house in Chiayi on Wednesday, and its mother was charged with abandonment resulting in death the following day.

A resident found the male infant in a partially covered laundry detergent box. Authorities determined the baby had already been deceased.

There were no visible external injuries, and the body had signs of rigor mortis, with the umbilical cord still attached. Authorities suspect the baby was abandoned after death, as residents did not report hearing any cries the evening before.

An autopsy is scheduled for April 9 to determine the cause of death. The infant’s mother has confessed to abandonment.

Police said the infant’s mother deliberately hid her pregnancy from her family and had no prenatal care records. After giving birth at home, she carried the infant to an abandoned house

Later, she checked on the baby and found it lifeless. Under the cover of night, she placed the infant's body in a cardboard box and left it in front of the house.

Under Article 294 of the Criminal Code, an individual who abandons someone unable to care for themselves, and whom they are legally required to assist or protect, may face imprisonment. The sentence can range from six months to five years.

Although the prosecution requested her detention, the Chiayi District Court rejected the plea, noting her poor economic conditions and inability to post bail. The court also considered her emotional ties, including caring for her young daughter and parents, reducing the likelihood of her fleeing.

According to the Code of Criminal Procedure, a defendant who has given birth within two months should not be detained without necessity. For these reasons, the court rejected the prosecution’s request for detention.