Chicago police investigating after 2 newborns found dead in Northwestern Memorial daycare bathroom
Newborns found on Northwestern Memorial Hospital campus in 400-block of East Ontario Street, Northwestern Medicine says
CHICAGO (WLS) -- An investigation is ongoing after two baby girls were found dead in a bathroom at a daycare facility on the campus of Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Streeterville Thursday night.
The two newborn girls were found unresponsive just before 7 p.m. Thursday in the 400-block of East Ontario Street, Chicago police said. They were taken to Lurie Children's Hospital, where they were pronounced dead.
Sources close to the investigation told ABC7 that a 29-year-old woman was found in a first floor bathroom covered in blood. Someone called 911 and she was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital after an emergency medical situation.
In an email sent to parents, the company managing the daycare says the emergency resulted in the unanticipated delivery of twin babies.
This occurred at the Bernice Lavine Early Childhood Education Center. Sources said janitorial services then came into the bathroom to clean and found two newborn girls in a plastic bag on top of a cabinet.
They were unresponsive and were rushed to Lurie Children's Hospital where they were pronounced, sources said. Autopsies have been performed but the results remain pending.
Video from the scene shows Chicago police at that daycare Thursday night.
A Northwestern Memorial official said that this was an emergency medical situation involving a daycare employee, but added that no children at that facility were involved with what happened.
The Bernice E. Lavin Childhood Education Center released a statement saying, "We are heartbroken by the tragic situation that occurred at the Bernice E. Lavin Childhood Education Center when a staff member experienced a medical emergency that resulted in the unanticipated delivery of newborn twin babies. All children and families enrolled at the center are safe and none were involved in the incident.
"We will be providing emotional and mental health support to all members of our center team and families. We ask for support and respect for everyone involved at this time as we grieve together and work to support each other and any ensuing investigation."
ABC7 has reached out again to Northwestern again for any new information on the investigation. No one is in custody.
