The Abilene Police Department has arrested a man for murder after a newborn was found deceased in an Abilene home on Monday.
Damian Scott Cate, 22, was charged with 1st Degree Murder and Tampering/Fabricating Physical Evidence with intent to Impair a Human Corpse just hours after the discovery was made. He’s being held in the Taylor County Jail on bonds totaling $300,000.
APD responded to the 400 block of South 25th Street around 8:30 a.m. after Hendrick Medical Center staff reported doctors examined a woman who had just given birth, but there was no baby with her when she checked into the hospital.
Officers executed a search warrant after learning the remains of the newborn may be located on the property. The initial investigation lead police to believe the remains were located somewhere in the home’s drainage system, so they called plumbers to the scene who snaked the drain and located the sewage pipe.
Detectives were only able to find birth tissue in the pipe. The baby was later located inside. APD says the newborn’s body was hidden and exhibited “visible trauma”.
Several suspects are being questioned in connection to this crime as the Abilene Police Department moves forward with a homicide investigation.
The mother of the baby is still in the hospital and cannot face any criminal charges until she is released. Abilene Police have not indicated if she or any other suspects will be arrested.
(Information from BigCountryHomepage.com)
