South Boston

Autopsy Results Pending for 4 Infants Found in South Boston Apartment

Boston police announced Monday that post-mortem exams on two infant males and two infant females have been performed in this investigation, with autopsy results pending

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An investigation was ongoing Tuesday morning, after Boston police announced Monday that the remains of four infants were discovered in a South Boston apartment earlier this month.

The Boston Police Department said Monday that post-mortem examinations have been performed on two infant males and two infant females, in an update to a "heartbreaking" situation that has been developing since Nov. 17.

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The results of the autopsies are still pending, and details surrounding the investigation remain limited.

Investigation Ongoing

On Nov. 17, law enforcement descended onto an apartment at 838 East Broadway in South Boston, at the time saying they were investigating "a possible fetus or infant found in a freezer."

Boston police confirmed that officers got a call around 2:15 p.m. that day to investigate the apartment. Homicide detectives were on scene for hours, alongside the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office.

Boston police confirmed Monday that a post-mortem examination was performed on four infants -- two males and two females -- taken from the East Broadway home on Nov. 17 and Nov. 18. The results of those autopsies are still pending.

More Remains Found

The following day, as the investigation resumed, police announced that more apparent human remains had been found.

Homicide detectives "located what appears to be additional human remains, which were removed by personnel from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for further investigation," Boston police said in a statement at the time.

The medical examiner's team was seen carefully removing a container from the building that was only about three feet long.

New Details Released

Boston police announced Monday that post-mortem exams on two infant males and two infant females have been performed in this investigation, with autopsy results pending.

Sources tell NBC10 Boston a family member was cleaning out the apartment when they discovered the remains — some of them were found in show boxes in the freezer.

Property records indicate the apartment belonged to a woman in her 60s who lived in the building for many years.

Court records state, "Police were called to her home due to the smell of gas. [The resident] was found at home with the gas stove left on and with confusion."

An evaluation found she is likely suffering from dementia. Court records also detail, "She is unable to care for herself and she cannot return to her prior living situation where she was residing alone in the community."

Sources also tell NBC10 Boston DNA testing is being done on the infants' remains to determine if she is the mother.

The investigation is still underway, and anyone with information is urged to get in touch with homicide detectives at at 617-343-4470.

No charges or arrests have been announced in this case. Boston police said in their news release Monday that they were not expecting to release additional information at this time.

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