crime

16-year-old girl arrested for abandoning body of newborn daughter

25 Comments

Police in Hitachi, Ibaraki Prefecture, said Tuesday they have arrested a 16-year-old girl for abandoning the body of a newborn baby girl in the parking lot of an apartment complex last week.

According to police, the girl, who is a high school student, left the infant’s body, with her umbilical cord still attached, beside a shed in the corner of the parking lot on Nov 1, TV Asahi reported.

Police said the girl has admitted dumping her child's body.

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25 Comments
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how about arresting the baby's father who abandoned her in the first place?!

-11 ( +3 / -14 )

This is so sad. Where were the parents, teachers, friends or neighbours to help her through this time and encourage her to go to the hospital. Where was they guy that got her pregnant? It feels to me that the community failed the 16 year old and she didn't know what else to do. I hope they get her councelling and help her find more support for future problems that are too big to deal with alone.

12 ( +13 / -1 )

Glad to see the girl didn't die of septic shock, but otherwise exactly like I stated it would be.

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

Sakurala, while I agree with that sentiment, everyone is born in a different environment. Maybe no money for abortion (16 yo) and maybe too scared to tell her parents, hiding her pregnancy until this.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Sad for all concerned and shocking that not enough were. RIP little lass.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

I'm sorry little angel, your palace isn't quite ready for you yet. You see, we weren't expecting you for another 92 years. "What happened?. I was so warm and comfortable. Suddenly there was a bright light, and I was very cold. Then I woke up here." You were abandoned by the one who gave birth to you. She was supposed to love you and take care of you. But, she had other plans and couldn't be bothered. But you are with those who love you now. "Will I ever meet her?" Of course you will. One day she will have to tell you why she did that to you.

-10 ( +4 / -14 )

"how about arresting the baby's father who abandoned her in the first place?!"

Megosaa, that's a big assumption with no evidence.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

It feels to me that the community failed the 16 year old and she didn't know what else to do.

They certainly failed her education about sex and contraception. But it's not sure anyone, including herself had noticed she was pregnant. That happens sometimes, mostly with teens.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

It is very odd to me how one can apparently feel too much shame to reveal a pregnancy and deal with the consequences, yet feel no shame (or at least not enough) in just discarding the body of their newborn child outside.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Still murder....

0 ( +2 / -2 )

megosaaNov. 06, 2012 - 03:19PM JST

how about arresting the baby's father who abandoned her in the first place?!

GFYS. How do you know the boyfriend left her in the first place and what gives you the right to chose such an intimidating sentence to someone you don't know anything about.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

i wonder if she was stillborn or this 16yr old killed her, then abandoned her

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Over all such a messed up thing to do! Sorry, but how in the heck can a woman NOT know she is pregnant?? Monthly periods STOP um that belly starts to grow, etc..RIP poor baby girl

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Sorry, but how in the heck can a woman NOT know she is pregnant?? Monthly periods STOP um that belly starts to grow, etc..

It's possible. Some women, teenagers especially, have very irregular periods that make it hard to keep track; and some bleeding during pregnancy isn't uncommon and can be mistaken for a period. Girls who are on the plump side may not notice the extra weight or expanding waistline.

I agree with sakurala that it's sad the girl seems to have had no one to turn to.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Elbuda Mexicano - Youd be surprised how many women - of any age, social status or stability - do not realise theyre pregnant until months into their pregnancy. Womensbodies are different, periods might not have been regular to start with and bellies dont always grow that big.

I feel sorry for her. I doubt she meant for any of this to happen. Remember she is only 16 years old and she was probably terrified (and who knows what the circumstances of the conception were - she could have been raped). In many countries now (I`ve heard of them in Poland and Germany among others), there are safe places where people can leave their newborn babies - usually a hatch in a wall which is the wall of a hospital or health centre. Whatever you may think of the mother, at least the baby is kept safe in these situations.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

My 16 year old self would probably have massively panicked and reacted rashly before thinking things through. When I was 17 one of my friends fell pregnant and didn't tell anyone - just stayed in complete denial throughout her pregnancy that this was happening to her. She kept the baby, but I know it was a really hard decision to make.

Don't be too hard on this girl. 16 and pregnant must be terrifying.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Don't be too hard on this girl. 16 and pregnant must be terrifying.

Especially here with few readily available social services to assist or counsel the girl about options as well.

She is very fortunate to be alive herself, and I personally wonder if she had any assistance with the delivery of the child too.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

yet feel no shame in just discarding the body of their newborn child outside

The ends justifies the means.

Thats how Japan rolls dude. Keep that shame deep down inside so that you wont have to feel it from others.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Yes I agree with all the comments. Everyone in the community is responsible for this, there are no provisions in Japan for unwanted babies to be taken care of or adequate monetary assistance for underage single mothers. the officials only care about making rules and colds laws that don't cover circumstances people go through. Now they will concentrate no doubt on charging the girl with a number of things. This is an example of how the Taboos and laws in Japan do not match the times we live in. She was obviously in FEAR of a number of things and I bet one of them is 'the reproach of the community for being a so young single mum' another 'fear of her parents' who would have been so ashamed and disgraced in the eyes of others. I think she probably either didnt know she was pregnant or how to deal with it or she had first thoughts about have the baby but panicked at some point or got influenced by a third party to dump the baby.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Everyone in the community is responsible for this

Not me.

or adequate monetary assistance for underage single mothers.

Thats fine. There shouldnt be either. There should be absolutely no encouragement whatsoever for underage girls to become single mothers. When underage girls see how hard their "new single mother" friends have it - that is the greatest discouragement of all to do the same.

She is 16, so she is still her parents' responsibility and therefore her child is their responsibility too.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

KundongNOV. 06, 2012 - 05:32PM JST "how about arresting the baby's father who abandoned her in the first place?!" Megosaa, that's a big assumption with no evidence.

i did not "assume" the baby's father "abandoned" the baby. i "assumed" he made this 16yo pregnant and that is the bigger responsibility, no?

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Cho88NOV. 07, 2012 - 01:45AM JST My 16 year old self would probably have massively panicked and reacted rashly .... Don't be too hard on this girl. 16 and pregnant must be terrifying.

exactly! you need to think a bit deeper Resurfaced and learn read between the lines.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

There's a lot to this story, as always with Japantoday, that is missing.

Maybe she was abused; maybe she as a runaway.

I don't believ the "she didn't notice" theory. She would have called the doctor or ambulance at some point, surely.

Then again, it has all the characteristics of thousands of people in Japan suffering in silence, nobody to turn to.

A sad part of this "unique" culture.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

YubaruNov. 07, 2012 - 06:47AM JST

She is very fortunate to be alive herself, and I personally wonder if she had any assistance with the delivery of the child too.

A lot of people ignore this fact. So many complications could happen, especially delivery alone. No pain medication means she could have fainted at a bad time, no help could result in internal bleeding, and as I mentioned in the other article, the lack of a placenta could have meant it had not been expulsed, which can lead to bleeding and severe infection.

Luckily it seems this girl is alright, and hopefully the shock of giving birth was good enough punishment that she will help others avoid her choices.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Still murder....

You were there ? She's charged for abandoning the body. The rest we don't know.The article doesn't say she killed the baby. He may have died during delivery or a few minutes after and she ran away scared.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

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